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Home , Alvarado Hotel, Hotel Andaluz, KiMo Theater, Occidental Life Building, Old Town Albuquerque, Simms Building

Historic Buildings Inventory Walking Tour Unless otherwise sourced, historic information adapted from Wikipedia.

1. Wool Warehouse @ 520 1st Street NW - Albuquerque’s central location and convenient access to the AT&SF Railway made it the hub of the New wool trade, which flourished as American demand for wool increased rapidly after World War I. The growing prominence of this industry was reflected in the Wool Warehouse, which was completed in 1929. Capable of storing five million pounds of wool and hides, the building also housed the offices of the Bond-McRae wool trading company, the Wool Warehouse Company, and the Cooperative Wool Marketing Association. -Beginning in the 1940s, wool production in New Mexico began to decline. This was due to a variety of factors including limited availability of land for grazing and the rapidly growing popularity of synthetic fabrics. Faced with dwindling sales, the Wool Marketing Association shut down in 1959 and the warehouse itself eventually followed suit in 1972. In 1985, the building was remodeled to house a theater and restaurant. Since 1994 it has been owned by Youth Development, Inc., a local nonprofit, and has been used sporadically for concerts, dances, and other events. The Wool Warehouse was designed by Albuquerque architect T. Charles Gaastra, who also designed the Monte Vista School and the Hendren Building, among others. The warehouse is a two-story red brick structure. The interior of the building shows an Egyptian influence, most notably in the design of the 36 supporting columns. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

2. J. H. O’Reilly House @ 220 9th Street NW - The O’Rielly House is a handsome and distinctive residence, a neighborhood landmark, which is important both as an example of Queen Anne styling in Albuquerque and for its interior work. It is registered in both the National and State Registers of Historic Places. The three lots upon which the house stands, part of the New Mexico Town Company holdings, were first sold to W.S. Strickler in 1903. In 1903 Strickler sold the lots for $1,200.00 to H.H. Tilton, a notary public and employee of the Citizen Newspaper. The O’Rielly House was one of Tilton’s many building projects; it was built between 1904, when Tilton bought the property, and 1906, when the City Directory lists Joseph H. O’Rielly as the house’s first resident. (Adapted from Fine Law Firm, thefinelawfirm.com)

3. Robinson Park @ 8th and Central - Robinson Park was the first public park in Albuquerque (outside of Plaza). Established around 1880 when Albuquerque was first platted, by 1900 the park featured a wonderful canopy of shade for residents and visitors to enjoy and the Braden Memorial Fountain, installed in 1898. As Erna Fergusson wrote “Early planners foresaw a park in every triangle where Central crosses avenues. At Eight Street they laid out Robinson Park, name for the president of the Santa Fe and placed a delicate mid Victorian female statue discreetly draped and dipping water from her nose when the fountain plays.” The fountain and sate are not original part of the park furniture but a commemoration of the heroic acts of John Braden, a 74-year-old individual who sacrificed his life to save crowds of people gathered in the 1896 Carnival of Sports (Territorial Fair). Braden steered an ammunition wagon that had exploded into flames away from the gathering, sealing his fate, but saving the lives of those in the crowd. The Neo-classical style fountain was fabricated by J.L. Mott Ironworks of . The sculpture was entitled “The Maid of the Mist,” but has always been known as the Braden Memorial. In 1968, and again in 2000, the sculpture was conserved and repaired. Recent park renovations spurred a thorough cleaning and repair of the fountain and sculpture, which was originally cast in zinc. It is one of four remaining of the six cast of this design by the J.L. Mott Ironworks. The park is also located in the historic 4th Ward District (Adapted from Historic Albuquerque Today, Susan Dewit, 1978)

4. Immaculate Conception Church @ 619 Copper Avenue NW – In 1868 Bishop Lamy assigned Jesuits to work at San Felipe in Old Town Albuquerque. Fourteen years later, it became evident that New Town Albuquerque would need a church as well. Father Donato Gasparri, S. J., met with some of the New Town’s leaders and chose a site for what would become Immaculate Conception Church. The New Town’s people generously helped to build the church, and it did not take long for them to build a school as well. St. Mary’s School was staffed and directed by the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati and a large number of dedicated lay men and women. In 1893 the new school building was completed and began to educate young Catholics. St. Mary’s School has now been educating young Catholics for over 114 years. Father Edmundo Rodriguez, S.J. became pastor in 2000. He and Sister Marianella Domenici, S.C., the school principal, have begun a capital campaign to repair and restore essential items in the building. These efforts will continue during the celebration of 125 years of the founding of Immaculate Conception Church. (Adapted from Church website.)

5. @ 125 2nd Street NW – A delight in itself, the Hotel Andaluz had added importance because it is the sole survivor of the three great hotels that expressed the city’s southwestern style – the Alvarado (demolished 1970), the Franciscan (demolished 1972) and the Hilton (now the Andaluz). Opened in 1939, it was Conrad Hilton’s fourth hotel and the first modern high-rise hotel in the state. It was also the first structure in New Mexico with air conditioning. The hotel was renovated in 1984 and reopened as La Posada. The old Hilton Hotel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. In March 2008, it was renamed “Hotel Andaluz” and reopened in 2009. Designed by Anton F. Korn, it was built in 1939; though in its basic structure the building is a simple skyscraper, the Territorial Revival style brick coping ion the various roofs prepares a visitors for the New Mexican interior. The skyscraper effect is further softened by the one and two-story entrance and lobby buildings along Second. The best of the Andaluz is its handsome interior; tile floors, carved vigas, bright murals, and wooden furniture combine Mexican and New Mexican influences to give the hotel’s lobby a distinctively southwestern feeling. The wood interiors of the elevators, carved in western motifs, could persuade even the claustrophobics to love this enclosed space. (Partially adapted from Historic Albuquerque Today, Susan Dewit, 1978)

6. Eller Apartments @ 113-127 8th Street SW (Downtown Books Building) - Henry Trost-designed multiple dwelling units between 1900-1924. Built in 1922, this is one of Albuquerque’s early apartment complexes. With its alternating brick pavilions and frame porches, the building has a unified and handsome exterior, somewhat reminiscent of eastern row houses. (Adapted from Historic Albuquerque Today, Susan Dewit, 1978)

7. The Skinner Building @ 722-724 Central Ave SW - Now home to Villa di Capo, the Skinner Building is а historic building in Albuquerque, New Mexico, considered tо be оne оf the best examples of architecture in the city. Originally а grocery store owned by J.A. Skinner, it was designed by local architect A.W. Boehning аnd built іn 1931. The building іs оf brick construction, with а street facade оf white terra cotta tile оn the north аnd west sides. Its exterior features а variety of decorative details including fluted towers, grill work, stained glass, glazed terra cotta tiles, аnd geometric patterns. The Skinner Building was added to the New Mexico State Register оf Cultural Properties and the National Register of Historic Places іn 1980.

8. Pearce House @ 718 Central SW – Information forthcoming

9. Hotel Blue @ 717 Central Ave NW - Opened as Downtowner Motor Inn in June 6, 1965, this hotel has gone through several name changes; the current name “The Hotel Blue” was given to it in late 1990s when it was renovated to a chick boutique in an Art Deco theme. The current ownership renovated all the rooms in 2007 & 2008.

10. Franciscan Hotel @ Central between 6th & 7th (now destroyed) - This structure, typical of the architecture brought to the Southwest by the early settlers, is regarded as the most unusual building of its type anywhere in the world. It was built by the Community Spirit of Albuquerque. The Hotel contains 175 guest rooms. Its lobby, magnificently decorated, is the most artistic interior in this section of the country. The Hotel is especially adapted to the entertainment of Clubs, Conventions and large social gatherings. Every attention is paid to the comfort of cross country tourists, whose prolonged stay is desirable to all Albuquerque. (From 1941 hotel postcard) 11. El Rey Theater @ 620-624 Central Avenue SW - The Girl of the Golden West made its American debut at the Metropolitan Opera on December 10, 1910. Giacomo Puccini, the famous opera’s composer, attended this performance and made a commitment to one day visit the Wild West. In 1913 it was rumored that Puccini was on the train, finally traveling to the West, to view the living landscape of which he had composed his opera. Iole Bachechi, a young Italian girl from Albuquerque, was thrilled to learn that she could see this famous celebrity from Lucca, Italy, the Tuscan hometown of her mother Maria Bachechi. There was definitely a Puccini on that train that stopped in Albuquerque, but it wasn’t Giacomo – it was his cousin, Luigi. Luigi, a young journalist living in New York (and also from Lucca) was passing through Albuquerque, saw Iole, and fell in love. They were married in 1914. In 1929, shortly after his in-laws, Oreste and Maria Bachechi built the KiMo Theatre; Luigi built the original Puccini Building, which is now known as Puccini’s Golden West Saloon. Constructed by Lembke Construction, the building was originally a grocery store, and later became a paint store, a lamp store, and ultimately, a saloon. In 1941, the architect, Joseph B. Burwinkle, combined the storefront with the construction of the El Rey Theater. As a tribute to the military, Luigi Puccini dedicated the building, as well as the military murals on its walls, to armed forces and Kirtland Air Force Base. During its early years the El Rey Theater was a popular movie theater, and also featured “The Hangar” restaurant, as well as several popular bars. This became known as the new “Puccini Building”. Encompassing both the Theater and Saloon, it is a registered Historic Building, and the only example of Mediterranean architecture in a large theater in the State of New Mexico. In 1981, Virginia Puccini Doyle, daughter of Luigi and Iole, and her sister Adelina Puccini Timofeyew undertook the task of turning the building into a viable commercial enterprise. Virginia had years of bar and nightclub management experience on the East Coast, and undertook the arduous task of refurbishing the theater and lamp store into a nightclub and saloon. The original Puccini Building, then a lamp store, was renamed the “Golden West Saloon”, in honor of the opera that had united their mother and father. The marquee went through an extensive restoration by Absolutely Neon, and in 1989, lit up the West end of . Phase I of the restoration included many repairs to the building, as well as the restoration of the marquee, which had fallen into disrepair. Thanks to a matching federal grant program by the Route 66 Preservation Program to restore neon signs along Route 66, the El Rey Theater was awarded a grant, which was administered by the Route 66 Association. The completion of this sign restoration marks the end of Phase I of the revitalization of the Puccini Building. The Downtown Action Team graciously contributed to the completion of this sign, which enabled its anchor venue to once again thrive.

12. Holocaust & Intolerance Museum @ 616 Central Ave SW - The New Mexico Holocaust & Intolerance Museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico was founded in 2001 by Holocaust survivor Werner Gellert and his wife, Frances Gellert, to educate people about the Holocaust as well as other genocides and forms of bullying that have affected people around the world. Due to the sensitive and graphic nature of the exhibits, it has been recommended not to bring children under the age of 11 to the exhibit.

13. Skip Maisel’s @ 510 Central Ave SW - Completed in 1939, the building was celebrated for what Albuquerque Progress, the local business magazine, described as its Indian architecture. Maurice Maisel built the trading post in the late-1930s after the rerouting of Route 66 through Albuquerque. Mr. Maisel selected architect , the leading proponent of the Pueblo Revival style, to design the building. Mr. Maisel advised Mr. Meem that he was “not content with the usual Indian thing.” The flat-roofed, one-story building is located in the middle of a commercial block. The front features large display windows set on a base of carrara glass (a trade name for pigmented structural glass) topped by a continuous panel of murals of Southwestern Indians in ceremonial clothing. Mr. Meem hired Olive Rush, a prominent artist of the period, to design the murals depicting various aspects of American Indian ceremonial life. The Maisel Trading Post was unique in that it was the only Pueblo Deco building in Albuquerque that employed work by Pueblo and Navajo artists. By the 1940s, the trading post had become the largest of its kind on Route 66 and at one time employed over 300 American Indian craftsmen onsite. The store closed after Mr. Maisel died in the 1960s. In the 1980s, Mr. Maisel’s grandson, Skip Maisel, reopened the shop. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. (Adapted from nps.gov)

14. Bliss Building @ 500 Central Avenue SW - Like the Yrisarri building (19.), the Bliss Building wraps around the block with a corner entrance. From appearances, it probably dates from the first or second decade of this century. The original brick has been both stuccoed and over-painted, but careful look shows interesting decorative work around the pairs of second floor windows. (Adapted from Historic Albuquerque Today, Susan Dewit, 1978)

15. KiMo Theatre @ 421-423 Central Ave NW - The KiMo Theatre іs probably the city’s best-known landmark. Іt wаs built іn 1927 іn the extravagant Art Deco-Pueblo Revival Style architecture, which is а blend adobe building styles decorative motifs from indigenous cultures, аnd the soaring lines аnd linear repetition found іn American Art Deco architecture. The KiMo is Oreste Bachetchi’s personal monument. One of the founding members of the Albuquerque Italian community, Bachechi came to the US in 1885, and later encouraged many of his compatriots to make the long move to Albuquerque. In 1925, he decided to build a movie palace that would reflect the traditions and styles of his adopted area. Bachechi went to Hollywood, appropriately, to find his architect; there he met Carl Boller, who had designed several successful movie theaters. Boller travelled the through the Southwest’s and reservations, gathering deign material and ideas The theater he built, with George Williamson of Albuquerque as his associate architect, almost immediately became Albuquerque’s most beloved building, a splendidly gaudy Pueblo Revival picture palace. The theater was given its name by Pablo Abeyta, then governor of the . Kimo in Tewa means “king of its kind.” From the street, the KiMo stands out among neighboring structures, with its tile motifs, terra-cotta friezes of Indian designs, and terra-cotta “corbels.” Built of steel framing and brick, the building suggests, slightly, Pueblo structures through its massing and décor. Inside it is embellished with tile, with mural of the Seven Cities of Cibola, with buffalo skull lamps, with carved and painted vigas, with wrought iron birds along the railing, with wall friezes, with plaster- of- paris Indian designs, with rain symbols, and sand paintings and whirling logs/swastikas. (Adapted from Historic Albuquerque Today, Susan Dewit, 1978)

16. McCanna-Hubbell Building @ 418-424 Central Ave SW – Also known as the AG&E Building, the McCanna- Hubbell Building is a historic commercial building in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico. Built in 1915, it is a two-story brick structure with a prominent cornice. From 1917 to the mid-1960s the building was the headquarters of the Albuquerque Gas & Electric Company, which later became the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM). During this period the piers and cornice of the building were decorated with hundreds of electric light bulbs, the sockets for which are still in place. PNM later moved two blocks south to the PNM Building on Silver Avenue. The property was added to the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties in 1981 and the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. It is located on the southeast corner of 5th Street and Central Avenue, adjacent to the S. H. Kress Building and directly across the street from the KiMo Theater.

17. Kress Building @ 414-416 Central Ave SW - The S. H. Kress Building in Albuquerque was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on April 19, 1984. It operated from 1925-1949. S. H. Kress & Co. was the trading name of a chain of “five and dime” retail department stores in the United States, which operated from 1896 to 1981. The Kress sign remains on Route 66 (Central Ave) in Albuquerque, along with curved plate glass windows and interesting architectural details, on an empty storefront in Downtown. Kress department stores were a chain of Five and Dimes, similar to Woolworth’s. They were in business from 1896 to 1981 and a precursor to modern day Kmart, Target and Wal-Mart. In the first half of the twentieth century Kress stores could be found on the main streets of hundreds of cities and towns across America. Samuel Henry Kress, founder of S. H. Kress & Co., used his fortune to amass the most significant collections of Italian Renaissance and European artwork assembled in the twentieth century. Works were eventually donated to 18 regional museums around the U. S. Kress stores are noted for their architecture. Kress considered his buildings to be works of public art that would contribute to the cityscape. The Albuquerque store is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Due to its ongoing vacancy, it remains in nearly original condition. The Kress Building in Downtown Albuquerque is an unaltered 1925 Kress store displaying a standard storefront design developed by the S. H. Kress Company in the 1920ʹs. It is the only such storefront in New Mexico and as such is of both local and state significance. It is possibly nationally significant as a virtually unchanged example of a major chain store’s early attempt to achieve quick public recognition through the use of standardized design. In Albuquerque it is an extremely rare un-remodeled pre-depression retail building.

18. Freed & Co. Building@ 415 Central Avenue NW - The Freed Co. was an import merchandise store, located on Route 66 (Central Ave.), near the Kimo Theater. Some accounts list the store as opening in this location in 1920, while others credit the store to moving to this site in 1979. It was run by two brothers–Philip and Max Freed. They were reported to have dressed alike and worked side by side, almost inseparable from each other. The brothers died within a week of each other in January of 1999.

19. The Yrisarri Building @ 400-408 Cental/111 Fourth SW - Sanborn Maps place this building as more or less a contemporary of the Rosenwald Building (1920), though its architecture looks back toward the Victorian ear, while the Rosenwald is most market modern. A brick building, now painted over has lost most of its first floor detailing to modern store fronts. On the second floor, the original bracketed cornice, the decorative brick patterning the framed arched windows. This building keeps what was once a regular feature along Central – the raised pediment at the corner, topped by an ornamental flagpole. The 115 4th St. address is now home to Nick’s Crossroads, paying homage to the intersection of Central Avenue and Fourth Street, which is part of the history of old Route 66. The building dates back to 1909 and previously housed Maisel’s Indian Trading Post and Brigg’s Drugstore and Soda Fountain. (Adapted from Historic Albuquerque Today, Susan Dewit, 1978)

20. Rosenwald Building @ 320 Central Avenue SW - Designed by Henry Trost оf the El Paso firm оf Trost & Trost аnd built іn 1910, іt wаs the fіrst reinforced concrete building іn the city. Іt іs а massive three-story building wіth а two-story recessed entrance аnd simple geometric ornamentation. The building wаs added tо the New Mexico State Register оf Cultural Properties аnd the National Register оf Historic Places іn 1978. The building is listed on the National Historic Register and is the first cast concrete structure in the state. The building sits at Fourth and Central, the crossroads of the old pre-1937 north/south alignment of Route 66 and the later east/west route through Albuquerque.

21. Route 66 – U.S. Route 66 (US 66 or Route 66), also known as the Will Rogers Highway and colloquially known as the MainStreet of America or the Mother Road, was one of the original highways within the U.S. Highway System. Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926—with road signs erected the following year. The highway, which became one of the most famous roads in America, originally ran from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before ending at Santa Monica, California, covering a total of 2,448 miles. It was recognized in popular culture by both a hit song and the Route 66 television show in the 1960s. Route 66 served as a major path for those who migrated west, especially during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, and it supported the economies of the communities through which the road passed. People doing business along the route became prosperous due to the growing popularity of the highway, and those same people later fought to keep the highway alive in the face of the growing threat of being bypassed by the new Interstate Highway System. The road underwent many improvements and realignments over its lifetime, and it was officially removed from the United States Highway System on June 27, 1985 after it had been replaced in its entirety by the Interstate Highway System. Portions of the road that passed through Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, and Arizona have been designated a National Scenic Byway of the name “Historic Route 66″, which is returning to some maps. Several states have adopted significant bypassed sections of the former US 66 into the state road network as State Route 66.

The “Crossroads of Route 66” occurs at 4th and Central, where the pre-1937 Route 66 and the re-aligned Route 66, intersect. The two alignments, both pre- and post-1937, of the Mother Road, have had a direct impact on the development pattern and economic health of Albuquerque. Prior to the 1937 re-alignment, the migration pattern through Albuquerque (Chihuahua Trail, the ATSF railroad and NM HWY 1) had been traditionally north/south. Many historic buildings and businesses characteristic of the 1920’s and 30’s can still be found along north 4th street and in south of downtown. However, the east/west realignment of the road in 1937, the creation of Civic Plaza in 1974 which closed 4th street to through traffic, and other economic factors have negatively impacted commercial districts along the route. The 1937 realignment not only impacted businesses along 4th street, but also redefined the growth pattern for the city. The new alignment provided opportunities for development along an east/west orientation. In addition to new motels and travel related services, new up and coming neighborhoods, hospitals and the University of New Mexico capitalized on the opportunity to expand onto the east mesa along Route 66. Unfortunately, the arrival of I-40 in 1970 diverted cross-country travel away from Route 66 resulting in an economic decline that is still visible today. (Route 66 the Plan). 22. First National Bank Building @ 217 Central Ave NW - The nine-story, L-shaped building was the city’s first skyscraper. Built in 1922, the First National Bank Building was designed by Trost & Trost, an El Paso architecture firm that was well known in the region. At 43 m (141 ft), it was the tallest building in the city until the International Style was built in 1954. The first story is particularly noteworthy for its immense and handsome arched windows interspersed by with medallions and surmounted by a molding which very effective ties the building to a pedestrian scale. The interior of the first floor is done almost entirely in grey streak marble, and features 28-foot-tall vault ceilings. The top story is set up with medallions surrounding the windows; above it is a heavily bracketed cornice. Altogether the building is a visible proclamation of wealth, tastefully spent. Like all good old bank buildings it inspires complete confidence. The building was owned by First National Bank (later First Security Bank) until 1999, when it was purchased by a private developer with the intent to convert it into a luxury hotel. Plans later changed, and the building was instead remodeled into a high-end condominium project called The Banque Lofts, which opened in 2006.

23. @ 120 Central Avenue SW – The six-story building was designed by the El Paso firm of Trost & Trost and built in 1924, originally housing offices and a 920-seat movie theater. It is of reinforced concrete construction, with a facade of yellow brick, embellished by pilasters, medallions, a heavy cornice and balustrade giving solidarity to the roof line. The Sunshine Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 and has been designated as a Historic Landmark by the city. The Sunshine Theater, which occupies a significant portion of the building, was Albuquerque’s first movie palace. The first film shown there was Scaramouche, starring Ramón Novarro and accompanied by a special orchestra for the occasion. The theater stopped showing first-run movies in 1974 and closed completely in the 1980s, but has since been remodeled into a popular live music venue.

24. Pacific Desk Building @ 213-215 Gold Avenue SW - One of the finest of Albuquerque’s old store and office buildings, and one of the least changed, the building is probably unique in retaining its cast iron first floor store front. A simple columned pattern decorated with rosettes, the framework is typical of many that once adorned buildings in Albuquerque. Cast iron fronts are now increasingly rare. Fine decorative brickwork adorns the second story of the 1907 building, The interior stamped tin ceiling, rolled in Germany, is one of the best in the City; the hardwood floors, spacious layout, and cast iron columns remain as they were in the building’s first days. (Adapted from Historic Albuquerque Today, Susan Dewit, 1978)

25. Hope Building@ 220 Gold Avenue SW - This small building is distinguished by its brickwork, stone lintels, and arched window surrounds. Gold Avenue was at the time the real center of city commerce, and several of the buildings along this block probably date from the end of the 19th century, as can be seen from their alley facades, though most others have modernized their front facades entirely. (Adapted from Historic Albuquerque Today, Susan Dewit, 1978)

26. @ 119 Third Avenue - Featuring an unusual Venetian Gothic Revival architectural style inspired by the Doge’s Palace in Venice, the building is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks and has been described as “unique in the country”. The building was designed by Henry C. Trost and opened in 1917. A fire in 1933 left the Occidental Life Building mostly gutted; however the exterior walls remained standing and the remainder of the structure was rebuilt. The architect for the reconstruction, W. Miles Brittelle, took the opportunity to redesign the roofline for a more consistent Venetian appearance. The building interior was remodeled again in 1981 to add a second story. The Occidental Life Building is located on the northwest corner of Third Street and Gold Avenue in Downtown Albuquerque. It was added to the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties in 1973 and the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

27. Post Office (now Amy Biehl High School) @ 123 4th Street SW – The Old Post Office is the oldest surviving federal building in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Located at the northwest corner of Fourth and Gold in downtown Albuquerque, the Spanish Colonial Revival-style building was built in 1908 under the supervision of architect James Knox Taylor. Several federal agencies were initially housed in the Post Office building but it quickly became overcrowded, necessitating the construction of the Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse next door in 1930. The post office remained in the older building until 1972, when the Dennis Chavez Federal Building was built one block to the west. Today the interior of the Old Post Office has been remodeled to house the Amy Biehl Charter High School. The Old Post Office was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The finished building cost twice the amount of the projected $100,000. The contractor, Anders Anson, went bankrupt due to changes in the construction plans. The area’s growth was so rapid that upon completion the building was perceived to be inadequate to meet the needs of the Post Office, courts and other tenants. In 1932, an addition was built to the building and in 1930 the larger (and grander) Federal Building was constructed at 421 Gold Avenue. To the casual observer, the building appears to be one single building, but there are clear indications where the 1932 addition begins. The roof color changes slightly where the new roof is spliced in; the 1923 addition is set back slightly; the south entry steps are quite different, and the exposed, carved rafter ends have different patterns in the two buildings. Both period exteriors consist of a limestone base, stucco finish painted brown up to the eaves, an exposed soffit with massive decorative rafter ends and a red clay tile roof. The 1908 windows and iron balconies are duplicated in the 1932 addition.

28. Simms Building @ 400 Gold Ave SW - The Simms Building wаs the city’s fіrst modern, International Style skyscraper. Іt wаs built іn 1954, making іt а contemporary оf the similar іn New York City. The building іs located аt 400 Gold Avenue SW, whіch wаs originally the location оf the old sandstone Commercial Club building. The Simms Building іs 55m wіth 13 floors, whіch made іt the tallest building іn the state until the Bank оf the West Tower wаs built, nine years later. The building wаs listed оn the National Register оf Historic Places іn 1998.

29. Federal Building @ 421 Gold Ave SW - The Federal Building and United States Courthouse, built in 1930, is part of the complex of federal buildings on Gold Avenue that includes the Old Post Office, Dennis Chavez Federal Building, and the Federal Building at 517 Gold SW. The imposing six-story building, faced with limestone and buff- colored terra-cotta tile in a brick pattern with molded inlays, is topped with a Mediterranean-style red tile roof and a domed cupola. The cornerstone of the Federal Building lists James A. Wetmore as the architect. However, it is unlikely that Wetmore, who was the Architect of the Treasury and was not a trained architect, designed the building. The lobby of the Federal Building contains a mural by Loren Mozley titled ‘The Rebellion of 1680ʹ which depicts the Pueblo Revolt. Another mural, Justice Tempered with Mercy by Emil Bisttram, adorns the wall outside the District Courtroom on the sixth floor. This historically significant courtroom was used by the U.S. District Court until it relocated to the Dennis Chavez Building in 1965. The courtroom was restored to its original appearance in 1981. The Federal Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

30. Dennis Chavez Federal Building @ 500 Gold Avenue SW - The Dennis Chavez Federal Building is a high-rise federal office building and courthouse in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was built in 1965 to house the U.S. District Court as well as offices of various federal agencies including the U.S. Postal Service, Veterans Administration, U.S. Public Health Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs. Originally known simply as the U.S. Courthouse and Federal Office Building, the building was renamed in honor of longtime U.S. Senator Dennis Chavez in 1976. The Dennis Chavez Building was designed by the Albuquerque firm of Flatow, Moore, Bryan, and Fairburn, which had previously been responsible for other local high rises like the Simms Building and Bank of the West Tower. The steel-framed building is faced with polished granite, with New Mexico marble used in the ground floor lobby. It is 197 feet in height and has 13 above-ground floors with a basement and underground parking garage. When built, it was the third-tallest building in New Mexico after the Bank of the West Tower and the Gold Building. It is currently the seventh-tallest building in Albuquerque. The District Court relocated to the newly-built Pete V. Domenici United States Courthouse in 1998, but the U.S. Bankruptcy Court is still housed in the Dennis Chavez Building.

31. Southern Union Gas Company Building @ 723 Silver Avenue SW - Currently the home to Flying Star Cafe, the Southern Union building is notable as one of the earliest International style buildings in the city. Built in 1951, it was the largest of several Southern Union offices around the state designed by southwestern architect John Gaw Meem. Meem was much better known for working in the Pueblo Revival style but did design а handful of other modernist buildings, such as the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. 32. St. John’s Cathedral @ 318 Silver Avenue SW - In 1882 the Rev. Henry Forrester reported that land had been purchased at 4th and Silver for $5000. The first service at St. John’s in November, led by Bishop George Dunlop. St. John’s was consecrated in 1894, a year after Albuquerque was incorporated as a city with a population of 3,785. The Rev. Frederick T. Bennett arrived in 1895. He established a youth choir, and chapters of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, and Daughters of the King. Growth continued and St. John’s attained parish status on Jan. 24, 1900, three months after Robert Renison arrived. With an annual salary of $1500 he served a congregation of 183 communicants. The Resurrection Window was installed over the altar in 1909 to honor of Henry Forrester’s years of ministry in NM and at St. John’s. The early 1910’s saw growth in both St. John’s and Albuquerque. Most members lived within a mile of the church, well inside the city limits that extended to 17th Street. World War I took a huge toll on the Episcopal Church in NM. Out of the 3000 registered communicants in the state, 1/3 were lost to the trenches of Europe. A role of the 31 lost from St. John’s, including one woman, is found in the back of the Nave on the Gospel side. The Rev. Dr. Ernest Bullock became rector at St. John’s in 1916. He encouraged his flock during the post-war Spanish flu epidemic. Parish records record few deaths from flu. Church guild members and parish women provided help for the stricken in homes and hospitals although church assembly was prohibited due to the flu. Between 1910 and 1924 approximately 1/3 of the deaths were from tuberculosis. This is not surprising due to Albuquerque’s many TB sanatoriums, including one run by St. John’s. Dean H.R.A. O’Malley oversaw fundraising of $30,000 and the start of the Cathedral house designed by John Gaw Meem, for parish and diocesan offices, before resigning on October 1, 1930. In the 1950’s, Diocesan status was gained, St. Michaels was planted north of the city, and Albuquerque’s population topped 100,000 with the annexation of Old Town. Construction boomed as both the Methodists and Episcopalians built new sanctuaries and the modern Simms Office Building, the El Rey Theater, and homes went up. St. John’s planned to enlarge the Day School to serve more 3-6 year olds who enjoyed daily worship, play, and activities; and to triple the nave seating to accommodate the 1,181 members, many of whom lived in the Nob Hill area near that convenient shopping center.

33. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Fire Station @ 1st Street & Silver – The fire station was built in 1920 to serve the railroad’s shop and roundhouse complex, located south of the passenger depot and . It was one of the last buildings constructed by the railroad in Albuquerque, and reflected the company’s interest in providing independent services and utilities for its operations. This is Albuquerque’s oldest remaining fire station. Its rustic architecture is rare in the city, conveying the railroad architect’s romantic images of the Southwest. E.A. Harrison’s design features a rough, sandstone exterior with an asymmetrical tower, crenellated parapet and sleeping porch. The tower itself is decorated with tiled overhangs, protruding beams, a stone insignia and ornamental globes. The building’s sandstone, quarried at Laguna Pueblo, was taken from a demolished 1881 roundhouse built by the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, a forerunner to the AT&SF. The protection of all of these features is included under its Landmark status. The fire station was used as offices for several years following the demolition of the roundhouse. It is currently vacant but still stands as a reminder of the important role that the AT&SF industrial complex played in Albuquerque’s economy through most of the 20th century.

34. Railstation & Alvarado Hotel (demolished in 1970) - A long-time unofficial city landmark, the Alvarado stretched from the corner of Railroad Ave. south along 1st St. for more than a city block. It was part of a depot complex that included the depot building (1902, destroyed by fire 1993), an Indian workroom (also called the Curio Building, constructed in1912), and the telegraph office (1914) that were all designed in the California Mission style that became the “company style” for AT&SF buildings (Wilson 1986: 3). The hotel featured luxurious guest rooms, dining facilities operated by the nationally recognized , and its ballroom hosted a multitude of social galas. The adjacent Indian Building showcased the arts and crafts of local Pueblo and Navajo artisans – silverwork, blankets, and pottery. The grounds were landscaped with multiple courtyards, flowing plants, and fountains. More than just a deluxe railroad hotel, the Alvarado became the social center and gathering spot for the city’s residents.

35. John Milne House @ 804 Park Avenue - This building was at one time 900 Park Place, educator John Milne’s simplified prairie style single family home built in 1917. Milne was the superintendent of Albuquerque public schools from 1911 – 1956 when he died. The Southwest Network for Environmental Justice now occupies the house. 36. Hudson House @ 817 Gold Ave – Information forthcoming

37. First Methodist Episcopal Church @314 Lead Ave SW - First Methodist Episcopal Church (also known as Friendship Hall) was built in 1904 to replace an earlier adobe church on the same site, which the congregation had outgrown. The earlier church, built in 1880–2, was the first church in New Town but had become inadequate by the turn of the century and was torn down. The new stone church was dedicated on January 8, 1905. It was itself replaced by a larger sanctuary in 1955 but remains in use by the church as a general-purpose space. The building was added to the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties in 1975 and the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

38. Valliant Printing @ 615 Gold Avenue SW - information forthcoming

39. Sears Building @ 503 Central NW - A sophisticated building in Modern Style, it was designed by Meem and Holian in 1948; a 1955 remodeling modernized the store added escalator and bricked in some of the windows. The simple and effective decoration is formed by pattered brick, the rounded corner is particularly handsome. (Adapted from Historic Albuquerque Today, Susan Dewit, 1978)

40. Champion Grocery, 7th and Tijeras – Built in 1904, it was for many years the store and home of Alessandro Matteucci and his family, and a center for Albuquerque’s Italian community. The building is particularly remarkable for its handsome second-story bay windows, particularly the four on the building’s west side. Built of brick with cast stone decorative courses and tile work below the display windows, it is sited to the corner with the entrance under a bay window. (Adapted from Historic Albuquerque Today, Susan Dewit, 1978)

41. Christina Kent Nursery School @ 423 3rd SW - Originally a duplex, this two story cast-stone building has lost its original front porch and other detailing. The Kent Nursery, probably built about the same time as the First Methodist Church to the west, currently serves an adaptive use as a day nursery, a function it has performed since the 1940’s. New Mexico Governor Tom Mabry once lived here when the building was a duplex. One of the building’s most pleasing feature is the enclosed chute fire escape on the west side. (Adapted from Historic Albuquerque Today, Susan Dewit, 1978)

42. The Frank Hubbell House @ 515 Coal SW – This fine house, built in 1890, is Albuquerque’s best example of the Shingle Style, a late 19th century romantic architectural tradition which relied heavily on wood, decorative shingles and asymmetrical plans. The west gable end has a fine relief panel, with particularly good stained and leaded glass windows below. Frank Hubbell, an important local politician and a member of New Mexico’s Hubbell clan, lived in the house from 1890 to 1935. (Adapted from Historic Albuquerque Today, Susan Dewit, 1978)

43. Lew Wallace Elementary School @ 513 6th Street NW - 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 New Mexico Territory from 1878 to 1881. He's better known for writing the Biblical-era historical novel, Ben Hur.