Las Cruces in Doña Ana County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
The Branigan Building
1935
has been placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior
Erected by City of Las Cruces.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1935.
Location. 32° 18.785′ N, 106° 46.796′ W. Marker is in Las Cruces, New Mexico, in Doña Ana County. Marker can be reached from North Main Street south of North Water Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 501 N Main St, Las Cruces NM 88001, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Rio Grande Theatre (approx. 0.2 miles away); Doña Ana County Courthouse (approx. half a mile away); Las Cruces Railroad Depot (approx. half a mile away); The Santa Fe Railroad Depot (approx. half a mile away); America's First Battle of World War II: The Philippines (approx. 2.3 miles away); Heroes of Bataan
this page online
Regarding The Branigan Building. Excerpt from the National Register nomination:
The Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, erected in 1935 in Las Cruces, New Mexico, was the only privately funded library construction project carried out in the state during the Depression. It meets Criterion C: Architecture, at the local level of significance, as an excellent regional example of a small library building in the Spanish-Pueblo Revival style that was designed by noted El Paso, Texas, architect, Percy Wear McGhee, Jr. Additionally, the building is significant for the mural in its foyer painted by El Paso artist, Thomas Lea, which is listed as a contributing resource in this nomination.
Also see . . . Thomas Branigan Memorial Library. National Register of Historic Places nomination (PDF) and photographs (separate PDF) submitted for the building under an alternate name. (National Park Service) (Submitted on April 27, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Unknown (Public domain)
3. Branigan Cultural Center mural
El Paso artist Thomas Lea painted this mural in the building's foyer. It is divided into three components: The central panel depicts monks, conquistadors and Native Americans, while the end panels feature decorative cartouches carrying text in honor of Spanish Franciscans who first brought books to the region and author Caspar de Villagra, who wrote New Mexico's first epic poem, La Historia de Nueva Mexico.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 27, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 81 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 27, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
