2002 Most Endangered

Most Endangered Places in New Mexico 2002

• White Sands National Monument Visitor Center, Otero
  
• Carrizozo Woman's Club, Lincoln
  
• D.D. Monroe Civic Building, Union
  
• New Mexico Public Welfare Building (The Villagra Building), Santa Fe
  
• The Whittlesey House, Bernalillo
  
• Edgewood Schoolhouse, Santa Fe
  
• Glorieta Battlefield, Santa Fe
  
• Castaneda Hotel, San Miguel
  
• The Hondo Valley, Lincoln
  
• Las Cruces Downtown Main Street, Dona Ana
  

White Sands National Monument Visitor Center, Otero

Significance: The visitor center, a 1930s Spanish Pueblo Revival stuccoed adobe with projecting wooden vigas is the cornerstone of the park?s historic district and cultural landscape. The interior has corner fireplaces, exposed viga and latilla ceilings and original WPA-era furnishings and tin light fixtures made by local New Mexico artisans. Constructed at the founding of the park, it continues to serve over 600,000 visitors a year. The building is significant to New Mexico?s heritage because it is an outstanding example of Civil Works Administration construction during the Depression era.

Threat: Located below the grade of adjacent parking lot and sidewalks, the building is threatened by runoff from rainstorms, which is undermining the building so that it appears to be sinking. Major cracking has occurred in walls passing through to adobe brick.

UPDATE: James Mack, White Sands National Monument Superintendent and supporters agreed to be the Champions of Heritage for the White Sands Visitor Center. We will be hearing more about them in the very near future.