This "On Your Way to the Mountains" guest post was written by Nash Traylor of Fort Lancaster. Fort Lancaster is located in our neighboring Texas Pecos Trail Region.
We see it all the time, especially in West
Texas, once thriving communities or establishments slowly lose their vibrancy
and fall into obscurity...Well if you are headed to see the Chinati Foundation
in Marfa, Texas, these are 4 other sites across the Texas Pecos Trail and TexasForts Trail that have taken historically significant sites and made them
relevant in today's society and ever evolving art culture!
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View of the Chinati Foundation, site of Fort D.A. Russell
from the fort's Officers Row |
Chinati Foundation, Texas Mountain Trail
What was once Fort D. A. Russell is now the
Chinati Foundation (http://www.chinati.org/)
, a world renowned Contemporary Art Museum. Fort Russell was first
established as a cavalry camp to protect the area during the tumultuous times
of Mexican Revolutions and bandits in the early 1900’s. When Pancho Villa’s
troops took Ojinaga, Chihuahua, refugees fled Mexico and were housed at this
site before being transported on to El Paso. Fort Russell eventually became a
site for heavy artillery in the mid-1930’s. As World War II got underway, Fort
Russell played a crucial role in the preparation of America’s campaigns into
Europe. When the regiments began to move towards the War front, Fort Russell
became a camp for German prisoners-of-war, but once the war ended the Fort was
quickly phased out as a military site.
Donald Judd and his constituents began
bringing this site back into relevance in 1979, taking advantage of the open
landscape and the unique lighting/space of the buildings. Today this site
houses many permanent large-scale art installations. What is considered by many
as Donald Judd’s masterpiece, is housed in two of the bases old artillery
sheds. They engage the local community along with bringing new artistic
innovations to the public. Read more about Fort D. A. Russell’s history here
In the late 1880’s and early 1900’s, Abilene
quickly became a boon for the cattle industry and their barons along the
Pacific Railway. The Grace Hotel was built in 1909 in response to the growing
industry. The Hotel, at one point, was the finest of its kind on the railroad
between El Paso and Fort Worth, and was the crowning jewel of this booming town.
Eventually, though, the decline of the railroad brought about the closing of
this great institution.
Abilene began restoring their downtown in
the 1980’s, and implemented their vision for a downtown Abilene museum. Today
this unique building has transformed into The Grace Museum which houses the Art Museum, History Museum, and the Children’s
Museum. A very diverse organization, it provides an experience for the whole
family. Read more about the Grace Hotel history here.
The southern transcontinental railroad line
was built through San Felipe Del Rio in 1882, giving Del Rio the sense of
permanence and prosperity it needed to survive. The Firehouse was eventually
built in 1926 to house the Del Rio City Hall, Police/Fire Department, and jail,
and played a crucial role in the management of this emerging border town.
Today the old Firehouse is home to the Del
Rio Council for the Arts. They have a gallery with changing art exhibits, host
programs/education from culinary to more traditional art classes, and puts on
the First Friday Art Walk in downtown Del Rio at the beginning of every month.
Del Rio, being both extremely historically
and culturally rich, has another gallery in the Glenn-Dowe House. Daniel Glenn, a contractor, built this home in 1900-1901. With
the easy access to the railroad, Mr. Glenn was able to import brick and wood
for construction. Amazingly the home has only had 4 owners in its lifetime,
meaning very little has structurally changed on the inside or outside of the
Victorian Style House. Built on Garfield Avenue, one of the newest and widest
streets in Del Rio at the time of construction, the Glenn-Dowe House is now
owned by Adrián J. Falcón. Adrián’s gallery of Contemporary
Modern Art is based out of this historic home, open to the public 4 days a
week.
The Graham Post Office was a WPA project
that started construction in 1935. The building itself is a great example of
the architectural style Art Moderne, utilized during the Great Depression. The
building has kept much of the artistic integrity over the decades.
The town of Graham and Young County has a
diverse history with the American Indian Wars, the oil booms of the 1800’s and
1900’s, an extremely rich ranching culture, and a German prisoner-of-war
encampment during World War II. Today these periods of history are on exhibit
in the Graham Post Office, which is now the museum and art center. The art
gallery has rotating exhibits featuring pieces by Texas artists.
Looking for more sites/events going on
across our West Texas Regions? Contact Nash Traylor at Fort Lancaster, by email
(nashtraylor@thc.state.tx.us) or phone (432.836.4391),
Like Fort Lancaster on facebook,
or visit their website.
Thanks, Nash, for your article and enthusiasm for West Texas history and culture!
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