~ Est 1983 ~
Roswell, New Mexico - UFO Capital of the World!
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Touring Main Street Downtown -- North of the Courthouse
Some of Our Attractions:
Roswell Museum and Art Center (1000 N. Main). Roswell’s wonderful and free art museum includes important Southwestern art, an extensive collection of Western artifacts, exhibits on space and the work of rocket pioneer Dr. Robert Goddard, and a planetarium
In 1937 WPA workers constructed the original adobe building, with its entrance on 11th Street at the back of the current structure, in Pueblo Revival Style including a flat roof and large visible ceiling beam’s called vigas. The original ten massive vigas with carved corbels underneath the ends, along with tin chandeliers, wooden furniture, and other decorations created by traditional New Mexico artisans commissioned by the WPA, remain in the Founders’ Gallery, the original portion of the Museum that today contains the paintings of Peter Hurd (1904-1984) and Henriette Wyeth (1907-1997). Hurd is best known for painting President Lyndon Johnson’s Official Portrait because LBJ rejected the work saying it was “the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen.”
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Since 1937 the museum and its holdings have grown steadily. Highlights of its extensive collection of Southwestern art include those Hurd and Wyeth paintings (in one favorite Hurd painting, The Oasis, with Capitan Mountain in the background, two boys enjoy a dip in the only pool available to ranch youngsters) and works of early artists from Santa Fe and Taos such as the most valuable painting in the museum, Ram Skull with Brown Leaves, by Georgia O’Keefe (1887-1986). Other galleries display changing exhibits from the permanent collection or touring art shows. The colorful fiberglass western sculptures of Luis Jimenez (1940-2006) are always popular.
Two other exhibits in the museum appeal to different interests. Robert Goddard (1882-1945)—“The Father of Modern Rocketry”—perfected multi-stage liquid-propelled rockets during his experiments in Roswell from 1930 to 1942. The Robert Goddard Space Collection contains some of his early rockets and a recreation of Dr. Goddard’s Roswell workshop, using all his original equipment from the 1930s.
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Former New Mexico Senator and astronaut Harrison Schmitt, the last person to walk on the moon, later donated the spacesuit from his 1972 Apollo 17 flight to the space exhibit that also contains a real moon rock.
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In another area of the museum, the Rogers and Mary Ellen Aston Collection of the American West presents magnificent Spanish, Native American, and Wild West artifacts arranged by themes. A true enthusiast could spend hours here studying the hundreds of items. Small bronze sculptures of western subjects by Roswell oilman Rogers Aston (1918-1999) are on display here as well.
The Museum Store sells a large selection of Southwestern books and non-tacky souvenirs, including Roswell’s official city pin featuring a UFO of course. 624-6744. www.roswellmuseum.org. Free admission. Open M-Sat 9-5 (Store: 10-5), Sun and holidays 1-5, closed Thanksgiving, Dec 24 and 25, and Jan 1.
The Chaves County Fallen Heroes Memorial near the center of Brainerd Plaza, between the Art Museum and the Civic Center, honors fifteen law enforcement, fire, and medical personnel who have “fallen in the line of duty.” This includes Barney Leonard who not only organized the world’s first—and only—Armed Motorcycle Cavalry but also served as Roswell’s first motorcycle police officer in spite of having lost a hand during the Philippine Insurrection. He died in a shootout with an escaped convict in southeast Roswell in 1934.
Roswell Civic and Convention Center (912 N. Main). Built in 1996 to host trade shows, conferences, concerts, and ceremonies, this building also houses the Roswell Visitor’s Center that opened here in 2007 after operating in the old Conoco Service Station on Pioneer Plaza for several years. Maps, brochures, and information about area attractions are available, as are ten free Internet minutes.
The boxy portion of the Civic Center closest to Main Street incorporates the original two-story brick structure of the Pecos Valley Coca Cola Bottling Company that operated here from 1937—when this portion of the building was constructed—to 1993.
Children under the direction of former Artist-in-Residence Martie Zelt created the 10’ by 32’ (3 m by 10 m) mosaic, Roswell: strata/city/skies, in the lobby, depicting features of the Roswell area. I Spy—a heart, a fish, Texas, a lion, a fault, a silver dome, a green dome, a fractured Zia sun sign . . . What can You Spy?
Vendors display their wares inside and outside the Civic Center during the UFO Festival, the Chile-Cheese Festival, and other celebrations. When President George W. Bush gave a speech here in 2004, even he got into the spirit of the UFO Capital, remarking, “I understand you had reports this morning of an unfamiliar aircraft. No worries, it was just me.” Civic Center, 624-7686. Visitor’s Center, 624-7704. Open M-F 8:30-5:30, SS 10-3, closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day.
Restaurants:
Farley’s Food, Fun, and Pub (1315 N. Main). This restaurant and bar with pool tables, specializing in juicy burgers and other informal food, becomes a lively spot in the evening, especially with occasional live music on the patio when it’s warm. 627-1100. Open for lunch and dinner every day, holidays variable.
Los Amigos (1300 N. Main). Delicious steak tacos, chunky chicken enchiladas, and crispy sopaipillas draw folks to this newly opened Mexican restaurant. If you’re puzzled by the scene painted near the door, it used to be a restaurant called A Taste of Europe. 623-8352. Open Sun and M for breakfast and lunch; Tu-Sat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; holidays variable.
Pasta Café (1208 N. Main). Roswell’s “Italian bistro” has a pleasant atmosphere, good Italian food, occasional live dinner music, and a yummy Roswell version of tiramisu. Try not to fill up on the flavorful bread. Reservations are a good idea on weekends. 624-1111. Open for lunch and dinner every day, closed Christmas.
Cattle Baron Steak and Seafood Restaurant (1113 N. Main). Marvelous steaks and prime rib, a huge soup and salad bar, and interesting “cattleman” décor that gives tourists a glimpse of the Old West make this one of the few restaurants where reservations are suggested on weekends. 622-2465. Open for lunch and dinner every day, closed Christmas.
McDonald’s Restaurant (NMMI site) (700 N. Main). The only UFO themed restaurant in the chain carries out this theme inside and out. The space mural facing the south parking lot is also fun. NMMI operated in buildings—long gone—on this site in 1894 and 1895, before moving to its current location. 622-2322. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day; closed Christmas.
For more complete information about Roswell's Main Street area . . .
BUY the paperback version
(single copies or in bulk) of Lynn Michelsohn's guidebook
Roswell,
Your Travel Guide to the UFO Capital of the World!
also $9.99 on
Kindle
and available from other online booksellers, through your local
bookstore, or on
NOOK.
Also available . . .
Roswell, NM: The Ten Best FREE Things To Do (Plus a Few More)
Your Brief Travel Guide to Fun in the UFO Capital of the World!
$2.99 on
Kindle
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