On West Centre Avenue west of South 17th Street, on the right when traveling west.
Built 1962. The only Cold-War era fallout shelter/school building in the United States.
Site no. 1781
A Registered Cultural Property
State of New Mexico — — Map (db m235316) HM
On 7 Rivers Highway (U.S. 285 at milepost 61) south of East Dayton Road, on the right when traveling south.
Artesia, named for the area's many artesian wells, lies on the route of the Pecos Valley cattle trails used by Charles Goodnight, Oliver Loving, and John S. Chisum. The town, established in 1903, is located in what was once part of Chisum's vast . . . — — Map (db m300922) HM
On Roswell Highway (U.S. 285), on the right when traveling south.
Artesia, named for the area's many artesian wells, lies on the route of the Pecos Valley cattle trails used by Charles Goodnight, Oliver Loving, and John S. Chisum. The town, established in 1903, is located in what was once part of Chisum's vast . . . — — Map (db m280073) HM
On U.S. 285 at milepost 67, on the right when traveling north.
In 1590-91 Gaspar Castaño de Sosa, a Portuguese by birth, took an expedition up the Pecos River in an attempt to establish a colony in New Mexico. His venture was a failure, but it led to a permanent settlement under Don Juan de Oñate in 1598. . . . — — Map (db m280126) HM
On West Main Street at North 2nd Street, on the right when traveling west on West Main Street.
Before the term "cowboy" became popularized, most men who drove cattle for a living were called "cowhands" or "vaqueros." The Spanish word, vaquero, is derived from the term vaca, meaning cow. Today vaquero translates to cowboy in English, but the . . . — — Map (db m251253) HM
On West Main Street at South 3rd Street, on the right when traveling east on West Main Street.
Dedicated
to the
Spirit of the Pioneer Woman
Sculptor: Robert Summers
Foundry: Eagle Bronze
First Lady of Artesia is approximately 12 feet tall and 6 feet in diameter. The artist designed Sallie Chisum from several photographs . . . — — Map (db m73436) HM
On U.S. 82 at U.S. 285, on the right when traveling west on U.S. 82.
The men who drove cattle from Texas up along the Pecos River during the mid-1860s until the barbed-wire era of the early 1900s were tough, independent and courageous. Those who chose to settle down and ranch in the surrounding plains or rugged . . . — — Map (db m61443) HM
On West Main Street (U.S. 82) east of South 6th Street, on the right when traveling east.
"He was born with compassion" is the way John R. Gray was described by his daughter, Terry Gray Chandler, and is remembered by those who knew him. His outward appearances portrayed him as a gruff cowboy, but he was known as a benefactor in his town, . . . — — Map (db m235349) HM
On West Main Street (U.S. 82) east of South 6th Street, on the right when traveling east.
Mack Chase got his start in the oilfield in 1945 at the young age of 14. After graduating from Artesia High School, he went straight to the field full time on a pulling unit, then into two years of service in the United States Army in the early . . . — — Map (db m235351) HM
On West Main Street (U.S. 82) at South 6th Street, on the right when traveling east on West Main Street.
“It is my boiled-down, concentrated, solidified and undiluted opinion that the oil development in this Valley so far is only a preliminary skirmish compared with the artillery that will soon follow.” – Martin Yates, Jr., 1924
The brochures . . . — — Map (db m235362) HM
On West Main Street (U.S. 82) at South 6th Street, on the right when traveling east on West Main Street.
“They rode out over the country in a Model T Ford. When they came to what felt like the right spot she said, ‘Stop here,’ and that's where they drilled the well. She kept up pretty well with Dad's business. Dad had some failures and she didn't . . . — — Map (db m235363) HM
On North 1st Street (U.S. 285) at East Main Street (U.S. 82), on the right when traveling north on North 1st Street.
The Trail Boss monument features six brands, two on each of the Longhorns and two more on the horse. Every rancher owns a distinctive brand, with the location of the brand on the livestock being part of the brand's unique character. The brands . . . — — Map (db m254703) HM
On Lovington Highway (U.S. 82) 1 mile east of North Haldeman Road (New Mexico Highway 229), on the left when traveling east.
Sallie was 19 when she arrived from Texas at her Uncle John Chisum’s Jinglebob Land and Livestock Company ranch south of Roswell. Her ranching skills rivaled those of the cowboys she joined driving cattle up her uncle’s Goodnight-Loving Trail to . . . — — Map (db m235270) HM
On U.S. 285 at milepost 61 south of East Dayton Road, on the right when traveling south.
Seven Rivers was located south of Artesia near the confluence of seven branches of a stream that flowed into the Pecos River. Settled in the mid-1860s, the town flourished as a trading post and refuge for participants in the Lincoln County War. The . . . — — Map (db m300923) HM
On West Main Street (U.S. 82) at North 4th Street, on the right when traveling west on West Main Street.
[Top]
has been placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior
1905
[Bottom]
Baskin Building
Built 1905. Example of early Artesia commercial building of . . . — — Map (db m235364) HM
On North 1st Street (U.S. 285) at East Main Street (U.S. 82), on the right when traveling north on North 1st Street.
At the end of the civil war a huge glut of cattle, as many as 3 million, occupied lands in Texas. Markets to the north at the developing railheads and markets in Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico afforded much higher prices than the $3 to $5 per head . . . — — Map (db m254712) HM
On South 1st Street (U.S. 285) at East Main Street (U.S. 82), on the right when traveling north on South 1st Street.
Gear was critical to the 19th century cowboy who spent much of his time on the trail. In addition to its functionality, a cowboy's gear also served as a source of pride and showed a sense of style. Here, the Trail Boss features gear common in this . . . — — Map (db m254707) HM
On West Main Street at South 6th Street, on the right when traveling east on West Main Street.
Dedicated to the men and women who take the risks and do the work to find, produce and refine New Mexico oil and gas. This monument of a 1950s drilling rig is unveiled in celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Illinois #3, the first commercial . . . — — Map (db m61445) HM
On North 1st Street (U.S. 285) at East Main Street (U.S. 82), on the right when traveling north on North 1st Street.
In the mid 1860s, an increasingly dangerous Comanche Indian presence threatened cattle drives heading directly north out of Texas. Because of the danger and hoping for cattle markets at US Military Forts along the eastern front of the Rocky . . . — — Map (db m254710) HM
On West Main Street (U.S. 82) at South 6th Street, on the right when traveling east on West Main Street.
The Illinois State #3 was the first commercial oil well drilled in Southeast New Mexico and the first on state-owned lands in New Mexico.
The oil sand, or "pay," was drilled into on April 9, 1924. At some time in late April or May, the well . . . — — Map (db m235360) HM
On West Main Street (U.S. 82) east of South 6th Street, on the right when traveling east.
After meeting up in the Artesia-area oil patch on a number of occasions, Mack Chase and Johnny Gray decided to go into business together. In 1972, they formed Marbob Energy Corporation, named after their wives, Marilyn Chase and Bobbie Gray. The oil . . . — — Map (db m235352) HM
On West Texas Avenue at North 8th Street, on the left when traveling west on West Texas Avenue.
[Top]
has been placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior
1908
[Bottom]
Sallie Chisum Robert House
Built of cast-stone, this house was erected in . . . — — Map (db m235341) HM
On West Main Street (U.S. 82) at South 6th Street on West Main Street.
Van was a worker's worker and this sculpture is dedicated to all the oilfield workers who make this industry great.
Van Stratton Welch was born in 1880 in a log cabin in Allegheny County, New York, the son of a Civil War veteran and oil barge . . . — — Map (db m235359) HM
On West Main Street (U.S. 82), on the right when traveling west.
Inspired by a vintage travel postcard, artist Michael Fish created his own modern version in November 2021. The words were changed from "Greetings from" to "Welcome to Artesia" as the mural sits at the entry point into the Downtown District and . . . — — Map (db m300959) HM
On U.S. 62 at milepost 16, on the right when traveling west.
These vast and magnificent caverns contain over 21 miles of explored corridors. The chambers contain countless stalactites and stalagmites unrivaled in size and beauty. The caverns are within a reef that formed in an ancient sea 240 million years . . . — — Map (db m280128)
On U.S. 62 at milepost 10, on the right when traveling west.
The Civilian Conservation Corps provided employment for more than 50,000 young men in New Mexico during the great depression of the 1930's. At the National Park Service CCC Camp, they developed nearby Rattle Snake Springs into a permanent water . . . — — Map (db m280129) HM
On West Pierce Street near US 285 (U.S. 285), on the right when traveling south.
The massive concrete flume in the distance
carries water from the Pecos River to
irrigate much of the farmland in this area.
It is a vital link in an extensive irrigation
system which made possible development
of the region's agricultural . . . — — Map (db m300581) HM
The massive concrete flume in the distance carries water from the Pecos River to irrigate much of the farmland in this area. It is a vital link in an extensive irrigation system which made possible development of the region's agricultural . . . — — Map (db m300582) HM
On Westridge Drive (U.S. 285) at Callaway Drive, on the right when traveling east on Westridge Drive.
The massive concrete flume in the distance carries water from the Pecos River to irrigate much of the farmland in this area. It is a vital link in an extensive irrigation system which made possible development of the region's agricultural . . . — — Map (db m301295) HM
On U.S. 285 at North 8th Street, on the right when traveling south on U.S. 285.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) provided employment for more than 50,000 young men in New Mexico during the Great Depression as part of President Roosevelt's New Deal Program. Three CCC companies were located where the Carlsbad Hospital now . . . — — Map (db m280131) HM
On North Canal Street north of West Mermod Street, on the right when traveling north. Reported missing.
Eddy County was created in 1889. The original Eddy County courthouse was built in 1892 and is considered to be one of the most picturesque buildings of this type in the Southwest with its Spanish style architecture. It contains many unique and . . . — — Map (db m300850) HM
On U.S. 285 at State Road 31, on the right when traveling north on U.S. 285.
After leaving Fort Sumner, the Goodnight-Loving Trail forked in two directions. This branch, developed by Oliver Loving in 1866, followed the Pecos River to Las Vegas, and the Santa Fe Trail to Raton Pass. The great Texas cattle drives followed this . . . — — Map (db m300575) HM
On U.S. 62 at milepost 7.5, on the right when traveling west.
Fellow Travelers, imagine the land and mountains before you covered by a deep inland sea. Then imagine a large reef forming over 255 million years ago. As the inland sea vanished minerals such as calcite and aragonite bonded together the sea life . . . — — Map (db m61488) HM
On U.S. 62 at milepost 7.5, on the right when traveling west.
Guadalupe Mountains to southwest rise from Pecos River Valley, with higher southern peaks at 8,750 feet. Bold escarpment is of famous Capitan limestone, an ancient reef similar to Great Barrier Reef of Australia, and host to Carlsbad Caverns as . . . — — Map (db m280133) HM
During the terrible "la grippe" flu epidemic of
1918, Grandma fearlessly led other women in
nursing and feeding the sick in tents and shacks
along the banks of the Pecos River. She did not
lose a single patient, later opening a sanatorium
in . . . — — Map (db m300832) HM
On East Greene Street (U.S. 62/180) east of Muscatel Avenue, on the right when traveling west.
Mother Magdalen and the Sisters of Loretto (1852 - 1968). Four Sisters of Loretto, Mother Magdalen Hayden and Sisters Roberta Brown, Rosana Dant and Catherine Mahoney, arrived in Santa Fe from Kentucky on September 26,1852. In January 1853 . . . — — Map (db m300896) HM
He laid the foundation of the National Park Service defining and establishing the policies under which its areas shall be developed and conserved unimpaired for future generations. There will never come an end to the good that he has done. — — Map (db m5979) HM
On U.S. 285 north of Horizon Road (County Road 719), on the right when traveling north. Reported missing.
Don Antonio de Espejo, leader of the third expedition to explore New Mexico, passed near here on his return to Mexico City in 1583. After learning of the martyrdom of two Franciscan friars from an earlier expedition, he explored the Pueblo country . . . — — Map (db m300564) HM
On U.S. 285 at County Road 712, on the right when traveling south on U.S. 285. Reported permanently removed.
In July 1867 Oliver Loving, a partner in the Goodnight-Loving cattle concern, was attacked by Comanches while driving cattle to Fort Sumner. Wounded, Loving held off the attack for two days and nights. With the help of Mexican traders, he made it to . . . — — Map (db m300577) HM
