Silver City

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A town of only 10,000 residents, numerous galleries and art spaces speak to the richness of Silver City. Nestled in the foothills of the Gila National Forest, the early history of the area is characterized by the cultures of the Mimbres and Apache. In the nineteenth century, miners began to settle the area, quickly establishing the town of Silver City. The town’s rough and tumble history includes the boyhood days of Billy the Kid, whose mother is buried in the town cemetery, and the various forts built to offer protection for settlers in the area. As the bottom fell out of the silver market, the town turned to ranching and copper mining to sustain itself.

Today, Silver City is home to a vibrant arts scene. Painters, potters, printmakers, weavers, glass blowers, jewelry makers and other artisans have made their home here. The historic El Sol theater is now home to the Virus Theater, a creative local performing arts group. The Silver City Art Association hosts an annual gallery walk and another studio tour. The Grant County Art Guild showcases members’ work in their gallery in the heart of downtown. The district balances historic era frontier buildings, while also engaging in more contemporary and colorful art forms. The town boasts three historic residential districts immediately adjacent to the historic downtown district.

Silver City has a wealth of festivals and events, including the Tour of the Gila bicycle race, Print Fiesta, the CLAY festival, the Gila River Festival, and the Rolling Stones Gem and Mineral Show—just to name a few. Additionally, film festivals, concerts, art fairs, and gallery showings are on offer in Silver City. Other exciting local events that enhance the cultural economy include: the Continental Divide Trail Coalition’s Trail Days, Southwest Festival of the Written Word, and the Fiesta Latina!. Two great historic hotels and several B&Bs enable visitors to spend the night in the district and enjoy many great restaurants and cafes, coffee houses, and shopping—all within walking distance

The renovated historic Silco Theater, built in 1923, provides a chance to catch a movie in an Art Deco theater with digital upgrades and modern amenities. Light Hall, built in the late 1920s, was recently renovated on the campus of Western New Mexico University and offers visitors and locals a movie-going experience too. Also at the university, the Fine Arts Center Theater offers a home for larger indoor concerts, while Old James Stadium provides a delightful venue for outdoor concerts. Gough Park, part of the Arts & Cultural District, is the perfect venue for outdoor musical events.

Visit the Western New Mexico University Museum to see one of the most comprehensive permanent exhibitions of prehistoric Mimbres Mogollon pottery and artifacts in the world. The Silver City Museum, located in the Victorian Ailman House in the Historic District, provides visitors with great insight into the history of this colorful town. At the museum, learn about the creation of the “Big Ditch,” now a popular downtown park and one of the entrances to Silver City’s many greenways, as well as the history of mining and more from other ongoing exhibits. Start your visit at the Murray Ryan Visitor Center, 201 N. Hudson Street, and you’ll soon see that there is so much to see and do in Silver City that you may want to stay an extra day!

Learn more about Silver City:

• Silver City Art Association
• Visit Silver City
• Town of Silver City
• Grant County Art Guild

Virus Theater

Connect with us on social media:

• Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/visitsilvercity
• Instagram – http://www.instagram.com/visitsilvercity
• Pinterest – http://www.pinterest.com/visitsilvercity

Website:
silvercitymainstreet.com

Facebook:
facebook.com/downtownsilvercity

Contact:
(575) 534-1700
sharla@silvercitymainstreet.com

Sharla Lefkowitz-Oberg

Silver City MainStreet Arts & Cultural District Executive Director

I am thrilled to be part of Silver City MainStreet and the community of New Mexico MainStreet programs! I bring a broad range of nonprofit experience to my new position. Over the course of my career I have focused on community building, advocacy, marketing, communications, and administration. 

I grew up in Upstate New York and have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Fine Art from Empire State College and several certifications including a certificate in conflict resolution from Cornell University, and a level 1 United States Track & Field coaching certification. I returned to Silver City with my family in December, 2022 after previously living there in 2012 and 2013. During that time I worked for The Commons Center for Food Security and Sustainability and for Silver City MainStreet.