Edison School – Carlsbad NM

The  Edison School is identified as a project that received New Deal assistance in the form of Public Works Administration (PWA) funds in an article in the Carlsbad Current-Argus.

El Caso Lookout – Gila National Forest NM

“Early in the 1930s there was a CCC camp in [the] area and they built the El Caso firetower …” NRHP nomination form: “This Aermotor MC-24 lookout tower is located on the Quemado Ranger District and was built in 1934. The… read more

El Portal Hotel Murals (destroyed) – Raton NM

“This private old hotel has a variety of art work in lobby areas including large murals created by Manville Chapman in 1939 and 6 others done later by his student, Willie Warder, another WPA Project artist. The hotel housed the… read more

Elephant Butte Dam and Recreation Center – NM

“Although the dam was constructed to regulate water flows in New Mexico, Texas and Mexico, the lake became a recreational attraction from its inception. Recreation took off significantly after the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed buildings, landscaping, roads and trails… read more

Farmington Public Library (former) – Farmington NM

“The library was founded in 1921 in the living room of Mrs. Lorena Mahany’s home at 506 West Arrington in downtown Farmington, New Mexico. Mrs. Mahany offered her services as the first librarian. In 1938 the library was moved to… read more

Federal Building and U. S. Courthouse: Bisttram Murals – Albuquerque NM

“Justice Tempered with Mercy (Uphold the Right, Prevent the Wrong)” by Emil Bisttram was originally installed in the courthouse at Roswell, NM. It was painted with Treasury Relief Art Project funds in 1936 and moved to its present location in… read more

Federal Building and U. S. Courthouse: Mozley Mural – Albuquerque NM

“The Pueblo Rebellion of 1680” was painted by Loren Mozley in 1936 with Federal Art Project funds and restored in 1996.  

Fence Lake School – Fence Lake NM

On August 31, 1935, the county superintendent for Valencia County prepared a WPA project proposal for two, two-room schoolhouses in Fence Lake and Liberty. The schools were to be constructed of logs cut from nearby forests and were to be… read more

Five Points School – Albuquerque NM

“A number of other APS buildings were built, remodeled, or had additions built as the result of this source of this [WPA] source of funding. Likewise adjacent school playgrounds, ball fields, etc. were also created. The schools include Armijo, Coronado,… read more

Fort Sumner Cemetery Wall – Fort Sumner NM

The WPA constructed the walls and entry of the Fort Sumner Cemetery.

Fray Angelico Chavez History Library Mural – Santa Fe NM

Olive Rush painted this fresco, entitled “The Library Reaches the People,” in 1934, with funding from the WPA Federal Art Project. Its current location was originally Santa Fe’s public library, and is now part of the Palace of the Governors.

Garage (Building #27) – Carlsbad National Park NM

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed a garage in what is now known as the Carlsbad Caverns National Park Historic District. National Register of Historic Places nomination form, 1988: Warehouse, NPS Bldg #27, probably designed by Ken Saunders, architect, Branch… read more

Garfield School (former) – Socorro NM

A plaque installed on the school building notes that the structure was built by the Works Progress Administration. The school name was later changed to Edward E. Torres School. It was closed in 2015 and is now used by Head Start. Note:… read more

Georgia Redfield Archive, WPA New Mexico Collection, Fray Angélico Chávez History Library – Santa Fe NM

In 1936, the Federal Writers’ Project (FWP) hired Roswell, New Mexico resident Georgia B. Redfield, an unemployed writer of local history, to collect stories and facts on her community. Like thousands of writers, editors, researchers and clerical workers on relief… read more

Gila National Monument Catwalk – Glenwood NM

The Catwalk National Scenic Trail had originally started out as a line that brought water from the mountains down to a mill in the valley. “This initial pipeline was constructed in 1893 and an additional 18-inch pipeline was added during… read more

Golden Library (ENMU): Artwork – Portales NM

In addition to “Science,” a large New Deal mural, ENMU’s Golden library is the home of several smaller commissioned (“portable”) examples of New Deal paintings, including: Gene Kloss: “Penitente Friday” and “Acoma” Stuart Walker: “Black and White Sawmill” and “Abstract” Cady Wells: “Mesas”… read more

Golden Library (ENMU): Jonson Mural – Portales NM

The abstract mural titled “Science,” by Raymond Jonson, was funded by the WPA’s Federal Art Project. It is in ENMU’s Golden Library. Nearby, the university’s administration building houses this mural’s twin, titled “Art”. Flynn: They were planned as a pair, with the aim… read more

Goodson Memorial School – Folsom NM

[Not actually located in Folsom, the school site resides in Folsom’s 88419 ZIP code, which extends to the northeastern corner of the state.] “Goodson Memorial School represents one of many federal relief efforts to lift devastated areas of Union County… read more

Graham Gymnasium – Silver City NM

“Graham Gymnasium at Western New Mexico University in Silver City was built and other buildings were remodeled with WPA funds. The sidewalks, streets and the riverwalk park were a part of the projects. The banks of the Mimbres River in… read more

Grant County Courthouse Murals – Silver City NM

“In Silver City, the PWA built Sixth Street School, the old James Stadium at WNMU, and the now-gone Western High School and Hillcrest Hospital buildings. The WPA constructed miles of local sidewalks and also funded the historic murals in the… read more

Grant County Hospital – Silver City NM

"W.P. A. funds matched by special bonds were approved [in 1936] to build a facility to house the hospital on donated land. The Town Council authorized Dr. Randolph Watts to travel to St. Louis and ask Mr. William Swift to… read more

Gymnasium – Amistad NM

The historic (former) Amistad School Gymnasium was built by the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) in 1937. The Mission-style structure is made of concrete, stucco, and metal. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

Harwood Art Center Building – Albuquerque NM

“The Harwood, originally the home of the Harwood Girls School (1925-1976), is housed in a 1925 neo-classical Revival style building just north of downtown Albuquerque on the Mountain Road side of the Sawmill-Wells Park neighborhoods. The original girls school campus… read more

Heights Community Center – Albuquerque NM

“Heights Community Center was the first community recreation center in the city and has served generations of Albuquerque residents. It was constructed between 1938 and 1942 as a National Youth Administration Project, one of several New Deal programs active in… read more

Hidalgo County Fairgrounds – Lordsburg NM

“When Franklin D. Roosevelt took presidential office in 1933, the Great Depression was in its fourth year. He was elected partly because he promised relief for the common man. He enacted the New Deal programs and the Works Progress Administration,… read more

Hillcrest Park – Clovis NM

“In Clovis, the Curry County Court House is listed as one of the buildings built in 1936. Twila Ky Rutter, Grant Facilitator and Procurement Clerk, unable to locate a photograph of the building as it was originally, referred me to… read more

Historical Center for Southeast New Mexico – Roswell NM

"The Historical Center for Southeast New Mexico houses four bronze busts done by John Raymond Terken in 1937. The busts are of prominent Roswell citizens John S. Chisum, Joseph C. Lea, John J. Hagerman, and Amelia Bolton Church." -New Mexico… read more

House Municipal Schools – House NM

On February 26, 1936, the Quay County Board of Education prepared a WPA project proposal to build a four-room school in House, a remote dry farming settlement on the Caprock, approximately 40 miles south of Tucumcari, the county seat. The… read more

Hyde State Memorial Park – Santa Fe NM

From Elmo Richardson, Natural Resources Journal, April 1966: The construction of Hyde State Park [Hyde Memorial State Park] afforded the first, as well as the best, example of the role of the CCC in state recreation programs. Activities and problems… read more

Jail (former) – Quemado NM

“When passing through the Village of Quemado in southwestern New Mexico, don’t miss the New Deal rock jail built in 1934 by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA). These letters are chiseled over the entry area and the building is… read more

Juan Tabo Recreation Area – Albuquerque NM

“The work of the CCC influenced virtually every national forest. While the architectural style was consistently rustic, featuring stone and massive timbers, regional variations that reflected cultural context and the availability of building materials did occur. For example, in the… read more

Kearny School – Raton NM

The Atlas of Historic New Mexico Maps, produced with assistance from the New Mexico Humanities Council and the New Mexico Chapter of the National New Deal Preservation Association, lists a number of New Deal schools in Raton Kearny Elementary, Longfellow… read more

King Stadium – Las Vegas NM

"King Stadium is a WPA project originally built to house equestrian events for the U.S. Calvary. Today, the stadium rests in near ruins. Luna Community College hopes to renovate the stadium and hold events – possibly rodeos – there, once… read more

Kirtland Air Force Base Murals – Albuquerque NM

“The Old Officer’s Club on this base was originally the Sandia Girls School, a private school built by the Simms family. It had art and furniture created specifically for it but most has been lost. Six of the pieces created… read more

Kiwanis Cabin – Cibola National Forest – Cedar Crest NM

"The cabin of local limestone was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) around 1930. The cabin was planned by a local Kiwanis group." "The SBAC has determined that the CCC ruins are potentially a nationally significant historic intrinsic quality;… read more

La Mesa Elementary School – Albuquerque NM

"A number of other APS buildings were built, remodeled, or had additions built as the result of this source of this [WPA] source of funding. Likewise adjacent school playgrounds, ball fields, etc. were also created. The schools include Armijo, Coronado,… read more

Lake Carlsbad Beach Park – Carlsbad NM

Quoting from a supplement issued 30 years prior, the Carlsbad Current-Argus stated in 1970: “Through the assistance of WPA the city has just completed a $50,000 improvement program at Municipal Beach park. This includes a beautiful bath house of natural… read more

Lakewood School (former) Improvements – Lakewood NM

Carlsbad Current-Argus: “Local [Works Progress Administration] employees are now engaged in … refurbishing Lakewood school at Lakewood. … Second story of Lakewood school will be removed, a new roof and teacherage – will be built, and rooms will be redecorated.”

Lea Hall (ENMU) – Portales NM

ENMU’s Lea Hall was constructed as a New Deal project in 1936.  The Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) provided a $46,000 loan and $37,636 grant for the project, whose total cost was $85,034. P.W.A. Docket No. N.M. 7048

Lew Wallace Elementary School – Albuquerque NM

“Built in 1934, it’s the first of many New Mexico projects of the Public Works Administration, a federal New Deal program to counteract the Great Depression of 1929-1942. Lew Wallace, a US Army general during the mid-19th century, governed the… read more