Silver City was founded in the 1870’s by prospectors hoping to “strike it rich” in the surrounding mines. It is New Mexico’s oldest incorporated community. In total, there are six historic districts, with numerous properties listed on the national and state historic registers.
Old adobe homes and eastern style Victorian manors overlook the quiet, tree-lined streets surrounding the downtown area. Bullard street, in the downtown historic district, is lined with interesting shops and restaurants. The building facades are a testament to the town’s authentic history in the American West. Each structure has a story to tell.
With a population of approximately 9,520 (2022 Census), the small community is home to a vibrant arts scene, with a diverse mix of guilds and galleries providing support for a talented population of glass blowers, jewelry makers, painters, potters, printmakers, and weavers. Silver City has been repeatedly selected as “one of the healthiest places in the United States to live and retire.”
Hiker Heaven
Though Silver City has a lot to offer, the biggest attraction is the surrounding expanse of diverse, raw, rugged, scenic wilderness area. There are hundreds of superb hiking and climbing trails in and around Silver City, including City of Rocks State Park, a spectacular field of volcanic boulders on the plains of the Chihuahuan desert, the Catwalk National Recreation Trail, a metal trail bolted to the walls of Whitewater Canyon, the pastoral beauty of the Mimbres River Valley, where the Nature Conservancy has established a protected riparian area for some of the best bird watching in New Mexico. Additionally, Silver City is the gateway to the Gila, the largest wilderness area in the southwest United States.
Located in the southwest corner of New Mexico, approximately 50 miles east of the Arizona-New Mexico border and 70 miles north the of the Mexico border, Silver City isn’t close to the Interstate Highway system. As a result, it doesn’t feel like a tourist town. It attracts art and outdoor enthusiasts.
The Gila
The Gila National Forest encompasses 3.3-million acres of rugged mountains, deep canyons, dense forests, and open range land. It is best known for the Gila Wilderness, which was the first wilderness area in the United States. Additionally, the Gila River was the first protected waterway.
The spectacular scenery, relatively cool summer temperatures, and mild winters facilitate a wide range of outdoor recreation opportunities throughout the year, including big and small game hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, rock-hounding, horseback riding, mountain biking, off-road motorcycling, golf, tennis, and birding. The 3,028-mile Continental Divide Trail, the most challenging of the U.S. long distance trails, runs from the border of Mexico (south of Lordsburg) through the Gila National Forest and Wilderness Area up to the Canadian border. The trail exits New Mexico north of Chama. A good map is essential to navigate the many hiking and climbing trails in the Gila National Forest, particularly in the remote back country.
Geology
The Gila and Aldo Leopold Wilderness Areas and the surrounding Gila National Forest were the site of at least 4 major volcanic mega-calderas, active over a span of time from 20 – 35 million years ago. From west to east: the Mogollon Caldera, the Bursum Caldera, the Gila Cliff Dwellings Caldera, and the Emory Caldera. These calderas formed within the Mogollon-Datil volcanic field, which stretches some 100 miles from Datil south to Piños Altos.
Resources
Maps, road conditions in forest lands, and other helpful information…
- Supervisor’s Office of the Gila National Forest
3005 E. Camino del Bosque, Silver City, New Mexico 88061
(505) 388-8201 - Continental Divide Resources
Camping & RV Options
There are 30 campgrounds, picnic sites, and rest areas scattered throughout the Gila National Forest. Fees are charged for overnight camping at Juniper, Pinon, Dipping Vat, Mesa and Upper End Campgrounds. There is also admission for use of the Little Walnut Group Area, which is day-use for picnicking. For more information contact the applicable Gila National Forest Ranger District Office.
Fishing in the Gila
There are almost 500 miles of fishing streams in the Gila National Forest. Some of the best locations are partially accessible by road, including Gila River stream junctions, the upper San Francisco River, Willow Creek, Negrito Creek, and Whitewater Creek.
History
Silver City was established shortly after silver was discovered in 1870 near the San Vicente cienega (marshes). However, the valley and mountains were home to many cultures prior to the arrival of Europeans or Americans.
Nomadic groups gathered the resources for survival in the mountains and canyons for centuries prior to agrarian cultures taking root. However, that changed in the 10th century, when the Mimbres branch of the Mogollon culture settled in the region. They flourished until the 12 the century, when they migrated elsewhere. After their departure, the Apache, Spanish explorers, and Mexican colonists moved in. Spain and, later, Mexico laid claim to the province, mining copper long before the Americans arrived searching for gold and silver. No one consulted the Apache prior to assuming full ownership and mineral rights, which led to centuries of conflict.
Mimbres Culture
The Mimbres “Mimbreno,” aka willow people, thrived in the river valleys in and around present-day Silver City between 900 – 1100 A.D. There are numerous archaeological sites on federal, state, municipal, and private property in Silver City and the surrounding communities. The Mimbres are a sub-group within the Mogollon cultural tradition found in southern New Mexico. The distinction is based on the people who lived between present-day Silver City and Reserve. They produced unique, intricate black-on-white pottery. Mimbres pottery is exquisite, coveted by pottery collectors. As a result, pot hunting has been a past-time since the late 19th century. Though some individuals eventually donated their collections to the Smithsonian and other museums, many Mimbres sites were decimated by looting.
The 12th century was a period of drought and social upheaval, provoking mass migration. Like their neighbors to the west, the Hohokam, and their neighbors to the north, the Ancestral Puebloans, the Mogollon were on the move. All of the indigenous tribes abandoned large settlements, with family groups migrating in all directions, establishing smaller hamlets on waterways throughout the southwest. During this period, the Gila Cliff Dwellings were occupied for about 20 years by several Mimbres families from around present-day Reserve. They moved on to an unknown destination.
The Apache Arrive
By the 1500s, small bands of Apache migrated into the area, attracted to the abundance of wild game and the diversity of foliage. The valley that is now the site of Silver City was an Apache campsite. Unlike their Puebloan neighbors, the Apache moved with the seasons, establishing temporary camps as they followed the harvest and the herds. Most of the time nature provided them with what they needed, allowing them to engage in trade with their neighbors, the pueblos, tribes in present-day Mexico, as well as the Spanish. However, during prolonged droughts, when starvation loomed, you didn’t want to live near the Apache. Their raiding parties were fierce and formidable, effectively thwarting Spanish and Mexican control of southern New Mexico for centuries.
Spanish Frontier
When the Spanish claimed the province, they focused conquest and conversion on the Rio Grande corridor, primarily between Isleta and Taos. Other than copper mining in the 19th-century, tribes out west were ignored, which was a boon to the Apache and Hopi. However, after the Mexican-American war culminated in 1848, waves of soldiers, homesteaders, entrepreneurs, and opportunists arrived in the new territory, rapidly claiming parcels of land for ranching, farming, mining, and forts.
After the American Civil War, “La Ciénega de San Vicente” (the oasis of St. Vincent) was founded by Mexican settlers. As more Anglos moved into the region from the east, and silver became the primary economic driver, the name was changed to Silver City.
Silver City Mining District
Silver City started as a tent city in 1870 after Captain John Bullard and his brother, James, discovered a rich silver deposit near their farm. The original strike at Chloride Flats was ½ mile west of the present-day courthouse. Captain Bullard anticipated the boom and provided early urban planning, laying out the streets of Silver City. As he expected, a tent city evolved quickly, with more than 80 permanent structures constructed in the first year. Silver City became the seat of Grant County in 1871, though Captain Bullard didn’t live to see it. He was killed in a battle with Apache on February 23, 1871.
Located in an area rich in silver, gold, copper, lead, and zinc deposits, Silver City became the largest mining district in western New Mexico by the 1880’s. Unlike most frontier mining camps, Silver City was developed with permanence in mind. Despite the isolated location, the town boasted modern architecture and installed electric and telephone service early. The community invested in critical infrastructure, like a hospital and New Mexico’s first independent school district. By 1883, the railroad connected the community to modern resources and supplies. The Silver City, Pinos Altos and Mogollon Railroad was incorporated in 1889 to build a rail spur north to Mogollon, one of the more profitable silver mining towns in the area.
When the silver markets collapsed in 1893, decimating numerous mining camps in the Gila and the Black Range, residents remained in Silver City. They were tethered to the rest of the world through the trains, with mining, ranching, tourism, and Western New Mexico University anchoring the economy. As the 20th century approached, the town reinvented itself as a health resort, catering primarily to tuberculosis patients.
Billy the Kid
Violent crime became a problem in Silver City during the 1870s; however, Sheriff Harvey Whitehill put an end to that when he was elected in 1874. Whitehill was also the first sheriff to arrest Billy the Kid (twice). Billy really was a kid at the time. He was 14, known as Henry Antrim. He and his brother, Joe, became orphans in 1874 when their mother, Catherine Antrim, died of tuberculosis. She is buried in the Silver City cemetery.
Sheriff Whitehill arrested Henry for theft on both occasions, later saying that Henry was a likeable kid who stole based more on necessity than criminality. After the second arrest, Henry escaped from jail and fled to Tombstone, where an altercation with a bully at a bar led to his first murder and an ill-fated career path. Billy the Kid’s childhood home is now the site of the Murray Ryan Visitor’s Center.
Who’s Who of the Wild West
During the mining boom, southern New Mexico was a hazardous place to live. Apache raids were a regular and reliable part of life until the 1880s. Seasoned Apache warriors, led by famous, battle-hardened leaders, like Chato, Cochise, Victorio, Mangas Coloradas (Red Sleeves), Nana, Natchez, and Geronimo resisted the waves of settlers and soldiers. The rugged terrain and strategic lookouts in the Gila provided refuge to the Apache, who were pursued by both the U.S. and Mexican Armies throughout the late 19th century. The Apache knew the land intimately, leveraging that knowledge to evade the cavalry. Geronimo is said to have been born at the headwaters of the Gila River.
The wealth pouring into the community attracted numerous famous and infamous individuals. Legendary western lawmen Wyatt Earp and Dangerous Dan Tucker patrolled the streets. Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch worked as cowhands on nearby ranches between robberies, becoming regulars in Silver City’s red-light district during the 1880’s.
As Silver City rolled into the 20th century, colorful characters like Madame Millie added their unique spark to the scene. Other notable locals include General “Black Jack” Pershing and Apollo 17 Astronaut Harrison “Jack” Schmitt.
Western New Mexico University
The New Mexico Normal School was established in 1893. The school changed its name to New Mexico Western State Teachers College prior to rebranding as Western New Mexico University in 1963. WNMU offers eight graduate degrees, 41 baccalaureate degrees, and 18 associate degree and certificate programs. The university museum in Fleming Hall is home to the nation’s most extensive collection of Mimbres pottery. Beyond the artistic merit of the pottery, the exhibit establishes a visceral connection to the utilitarian nature of each object. These pieces weren’t created to be displayed. They were created to be used, with many vessels showing signs of extensive use.
The museum is open to the public from 9 AM – 4:30 PM Monday – Friday and 10 AM – 4 PM Saturday. Closed Sundays and during university holidays. Free admission.
The Big Ditch
The founders of Silver City laid out the main streets north to south, but they didn’t build with snow pack and summer monsoons in mind. Whereas the downtown area had high sidewalks to accommodate frequent flood waters, the elevation was inadequate. Grazing and deforestation exacerbated the annual runoff, culminating in a massive flood on July 21, 1895. A wall of water surged through the business district, annihilating everything in its path. The water wiped out Main Street, carving a 55-foot deep ditch. Bullard Street quickly became Main Street as businesses adapted by using the back door as the main entrance. Main Street now ends near the back of the Silver City Police Station, where the Big Ditch Park begins. To this day, the addressing conventions on the east side of Bullard Street are a reminder that the buildings were addressed on Main Street originally.
People used the “Big Ditch” as a dump site for years, creating an eyesore in the historic district. During the 1970’s, there were discussions about filling the ditch to create additional downtown parking; however, the community opted to preserve the history, creating a park with walking paths and bridges in the shallow, shaded arroyo. There is a small creek running most of the year, though it can become a raging river when there is rapid snow melt or heavy rain.
Silver City Visitor Center
Murray Ryan Visitor Center
201 North Hudson Street
Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 538-5555
Monday – Saturday: 9 AM – 4 PM
Sunday: 10 AM – 2 PM
Weather
The average annual temperature is 54 degrees Fahrenheit, with mid-summer days in the 80s. Winters are usually fairly mild, with pleasant, above-freezing temperatures. The average annual rain/snow precipitation is approximately 14 inches. Like all of New Mexico, sunny days are the norm, with an average of 300+ per year. The growing season is longer in southern New Mexico, with 174 growing days per season.
Annual Events
Annual Events
Chocolate Fantasia (February)
Territorial Charter Day (February)
CDT Trail Fest & Kick-Off (April)
TommyKnocker10 (April)
Tour of the Gila (April)
Silver City Blues Festival (May)
Wild, Wild West Rodeo (June)
Fiesta Latina! (June)
Silver City CLAY Festival (July)
Hummingbird Festival (July)
Taste of Downtown (September)
Gila River Festival (September)
Fort Bayard Days (September)
Grant County Fair(September)
Carnitas Musica-Y Mas Fiesta(September)
Mimbres Valley Harvest Festival (October)
Red Paint Powwow (October)
Octoaderfest (October)
Southwest Festival of the Written Word (October)
Dia de los Muertos (November)
Lighted Christmas Parade (November)
Tamal Fiesta (December)
Thing to See & Do
Hiking & Shopping in Silver City
Gila Hike & Bike
103 E College Ave, Silver City, NM 88061
(575)388-3222
gilahikeandbike1@gmail.com
Whether you are looking for gear or good advice about the trails near Silver City, Gila Hike & Bike is an invaluable resource for anyone exploring Gila trails. They have everything you will need for enjoying the outdoors in and around Silver City.
Kneeling Nun Mercantile
519 N Bullard St, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 342-1552
Kneeling Nun Mercantile is located in the Mimbres Valley. They specialize in Bath & Body products for men and women, as well as leatherworking. The Mercantile is dedicated to environmental improvements that foster a sustainable and resilient future. They use sustainable ingredients in all of their products.
Mimbres Arts Council
201 N Hudson St, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 538-2505
The Mimbres Arts Council supports programs and events that foster and promote the arts, like the annual Silver City Blues Festival.
O'Keefe's Bookshop
102 W Broadway St, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 297-9549
Fantastic used bookstore in downtown Silver City next to the Palace Hotel. The owners are very friendly and helpful.
Silco Theater
311 N Bullard St, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 956-6198
The Silco Theater is 1926-vintage a beautifully restored Art Deco theater that offers first run movies, classics, locally made documentaries and other community event opportunities to Silver City and Grant County. The Silco began its life as the Airdome, mid 1900s, and became the Princess in 1914. The Princess featured The Man from the West, one of several movies made in Silver City by Romaine Fielding, relying on local talent. In 1923 the Princess was torn down and a new theater, The Liberty Theater, was built. The name was changed in 1926 and continued to operate as The Silco Theater until the early 1960s.
Syzygy Tile
106 N Bullard St, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 388-5472
At the Syzygy factory
twenty artisans work together
to produce a unique line
of handmade tile.
Lovely shapes and mosaics are
cut and pressed by hand. Glazes are
carefully applied with a brush.
Virus Theater
406 N Bullard St, Silver City, NM 88061
Silver City Art Association
The Silver City Art Association is a non-profit organization of galleries, studios, and independent artists celebrating and supporting visual arts in the greater Silver City area through promotion, events, and education.
Silver City Community Theater
Silver City Community Theatre provides workshops, events and productions.
Silver City Trails
For more information about trails outside of Silver City, check in with Gila Hike & Bike.
Penny Park
N Grant St, Silver City, NM 88061
Beautiful park with modern play structures. There are two separate areas for kids. The park is well maintained and the locals are friendly.
Boston Hill Open Space
Over 10 miles of trails zig-zag through the high-desert vegetation of an old mining district. The Boston Hill Trail is a 1.7-mile loop. This is a popular trail for hiking, running, and walking. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.
Cheyenne Street Trailhead
2.5-mile loop trail connecting to other Boston Hill trails. It is a good trail for mountain bikers, though it is popular for hiking as well. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.
Cooper Street Trailhead
Boston Hill trail access from Cooper Street.
Market Street Trailhead
Boston Hill trail access from Market Street.
The Big Ditch
Nice trail downtown. It follows the ditch created when Main Street was flooded in 1895. The ditch was an eyesore for years. They considered filling it and converting the space to parking, due to proximity to downtown. Ultimately, the community opted to turn it into a city park, lined with trees. The trail runs adjacent to a small creek that is flowing to some degree most of the year.
Day Trips & Excursions
Sight-Seeing Around Silver City
It's difficult to summarize all of the day trip options around Silver City. If you have an affinity for hiking, the region is dense with trails, including the Continental Divide Trail, a route running from the border of Mexico south of Lordsburg to the Canada. The Gila National Forest and Gila Wilderness encompass 3.3 million acres of protected, untamed public land. Trails of the Gila will be a separate article at some point in the future. It is on the list. In the meantime, there are numerous sights and scenic sojourns to choose from below.
Aldo Leopold Wilderness Area
Gila National Forest
3005 E. Camino del Bosque
Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 388-8201
The area with the Aldo Leopold Wilderness was formerly part of the Gila Wilderness. The Aldo Leopold Wilderness was named for one of history's most influential conservationists, and protects the roughest, wildest portions of one of New Mexico's wildest corners -- the Black Range. The elevations in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness range from 6,000 feet to 10,165 feet. The Aldo Leopold is rugged and remote and is often considered New Mexico's "wildest wilderness."
Bill Evans Lake
Evans Lake Rd, Silver City, NM 88061
Bill Evans Lake is a 62-acre lake situated between Cliff and Silver City in the Gila area. Situated on top of a mesa, this small property provides fishing access and habitat for
wildlife. The reservoir is located 300 feet above the Gila River. Primitive camping, hiking, and fishing available.
Catwalk Recreation Area
Glenwood Ranger District
Erick Stemmerman, District Ranger
Hwy 180 S, 18 Ranger Station Rd., P.O. Box 8
Glenwood, NM 88039
(575) 539-2481
Tucked 5-miles east of Glenwood, New Mexico, the Catwalk Recreation Area is home to one of New Mexico’s most interesting (and beautiful) trails. Geronimo and his band of warriors hid out from the U.S. Army in this remote canyon back in the 1880s. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid took advantage of the seclusion and the swimming hole while evading Pinkerton detectives hot on their trail. The trails is enclosed by a metal walkway suspended 25-feet above Whitewater Creek. It follows water-pipe routes built by miners in 1893. $3 fee/vehicle.
City of Rocks
327 Hwy 61
Faywood, NM 88034
Park Manager:
Gabriel Medrano
gabriel.medrano@emnrd.nm.gov
(575) 536-2800
City of Rocks gets its name from the amazing volcanic rock formations found here. The park is nestled in the scenic Chihuahuan desert region of southeastern New Mexico.The park encompasses about one square mile of giant, wind sculpted volcanic boulders. The boulders were deposited by the Emory caldera, located at the southern end of the Black range, during a massive eruption about 35 million years ago. Over millions of years, erosion whittled the columns and spires seen today. Some of the rock columns are 40 feet high. The park offers camping, hiking, mountain biking, and wildlife viewing, with well developed, interpretive trails, an observatory, picnic areas, a desert botanical garden, a new visitor center, tidy restrooms, and hot showers.
Gila Cliff Dwellings
HC 68 Box 100
Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 536-9461
The Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is the only monument with Mogollon ruins. The site protects five cliff alcoves that shield the ruins of several interlinked caves. There are 40 rooms of various sizes in the caves, created with small, flat stones set in adobe mud mortar. Ancient people built the cliff dwellings between 1275-1300 AD. The caves are approximately ¼ mile above the canyon’s confluence with the west fork of the Gila River, about 200 feet up the northwest side of Cliff Dweller Canyon.
Open from 9 AM - 4 PM daily. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. No admission fees.
Faywood Springs
165 Highway 61 Faywood, New Mexico 88034
(575) 342-8181
Faywood Hot Springs is a rustic geothermal resort located 2.4 miles southwest of City of Rocks. They offer outdoor public and private soaking pools for those who wish to enjoy a rejuvenating mineral water bath.
Fort Bayard Historic District
26 Calle El Centro, Santa Clara, NM 88026
info@historicfortbayard.org
Fort Bayard is eight miles east of Silver City, just off of US Highway 180. The fort was established by the US Army in 1866 to protect mining camps in the area. Later, the fort was converted to an Army hospital, specializing in the treatment of tuberculosis. It became US Veterans Hospital under the Veterans Administration in the 1920s. Today, the property is preserved as a museum, maintained by the Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society. The museum personnel offer tours of the building and the grounds on a regular schedule.
Lake Roberts
684 NM-35, Mimbres, NM 88049
Lake Roberts is a beautiful 72-acre mountain lake in the Mimbres valley. There are several campgrounds around the lake. Lake Roberts is about 27-miles north of Silver City on NM15 near the NM-35 junction (turn off to the Gila Cliff Dwellings).
Mimbres Cultural Heritage Site
12 Sage Dr, Mimbres, NM 88049
mimbrescultureheritagesite@gmail.com
(575) 536-3333
Visit the Mattocks Archaeological Ruin created by the Mimbres and Salado Native Americans, of the Mogollon. A rich collection of early settlement history of natives, Spanish, Anglo, of the Mimbres River Valley. The suggested entrance donation is $3 / person. Dress for the weather to hike 2 trails, the Mattocks Ruin interpretive & the trail to the Mimbres River. Pets are allowed on the trails.
Mogollon
With almost 100 historic buildings remaining, Mogollon is a ghost town lover's dream. Once a bustling, raucous mining town, Mogollon was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. Most buildings are used as residences and summer homes. The fifteen or so remaining full time residents serve as caretakers
From State Road 180, take Route 159, aka Bursum Road, about 8 miles east. The road continues deep into the Gila back country; however, the road quality rapidly deteriorates beyond Mogollon. High clearance 4-WD or transportation suitable to rough terrain is recommended.
Pinos Altos
Pinos Altos is about 8 miles north of Silver City. Though today's population is around 300 people, Pinos Altos was Grant County’s first county seat during its heyday. Like many community’s established during the 19th century mining boom, the town’s fortunes waned when the copper market collapsed in 1907. Though it briefly became a ghost town after the mines closed, new folks moved in. They have preserved the town’s character and history. Main Street looks like a western movie set.
Santa Rita Copper Mine
The landscape is dotted with abandoned mining camps and a few ghost towns, a testament to the mining boom in the 19th century, a tradition continued today at the Chino copper mine. Remember the Orc pits in Lord of the Rings? This is much deeper.
Shakespeare Ghost Town
NM-494, Lordsburg, NM 88045
visit@shakespeareghostown.com(575)-542-9034
Shakespeare has had several names through the years and only acquired its present one in 1879 at the beginning of its second mining boom. It is located here because there was a small but reliable spring located in the arroyo west of the town.
According to old timers, there was no law here at all-just the agreed upon rule that "if you killed someone you had to dig the grave." This kept down indiscriminate shootings.
Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway
A scenic 93-mile loop through the Gila National Forest and Gila Wilderness. The route goes through Silver City, the Mimbres Valley, criss-crossing the Continental Divide through the Gila. NM-35 to the Gila Cliff Dwellings is a short spur off the Trail of the Mountain Spirits.
Galleries & Museums
For spectator entertainment there is a diverse slate of offering,from symphonies and fine opera to the renowned "Cowboy Poetry" readings and wild west rodeos. Additionally, local museums and galleries are considered to be among the best in the Southwest.
Galleries
Animalia Studio
214 N Bullard St, Silver City, NM 88061
(573) 441-2620
Animalia Studio features the work of Karen Edith Pritchett and Todd Shelby, a husband and wife team whose creations include pottery, painting, sculpture, and wearables. They proudly make every piece by hand, on site, with an emphasis on color, narrative, and upcycled materials.
@Space Gallery
110 W 7th St, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 538-3333
Jean-Robert P.Béffort's artwork focuses on transmuting, transforming and transcending the debris and artifacts of consumer culture by way of mixed-media assemblage collage sculpture. He reuses and recycles everyday found objects that are combined into layers of text and imagery, yielding a visual narrative that tells a story of reparation and rebirth.
Blue Dome Gallery
307 N Texas St, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 538-2538
The premier gallery for fine craft and visual art in Silver City, New Mexico since 1999. Each painter, sculptor, jeweler, furniture maker, glass artist, and potter represented is known for their excellent craftsmanship and style.
Made in Silver City
206 W Broadway St, Silver City, NM 88061
info@madeinsilvercity.com
A collaboration of four sculptors who met at WNMU, Made In Silver City is a studio, gallery, and gift shop dedicated to spotlighting the best craftspersons of the region. The gallery features 6 - 8 rotating local artists.
Frances McCray Gallery of Contemporary Art
101-237 W Rhoda Rd, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 538-6517
The Francis McCray Gallery of Contemporary Art at Western New Mexico University (WNMU) is named after the esteemed artist, educator, and past resident of Silver City, NM–Francis McCray. They host five exhibitions per year on the WNMU campus.
Diana Ingalls Leyba Studio & Gallery
315 N Bullard St, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 388-5725
Diana Ingalls Leyba Studio & Gallery is home to local and regional printmakers, painters, clay and sculpture artists. Located in downtown Silver City.
Light Art Space
209 W Broadway St, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 240-7075
Light Art Space is owned and operated by Karen Hymer (she/her), a visual artist and teacher from Tucson, Arizona. Karen’s experience and technical interests are wide-ranging. Although “trained” as a photographer and educator, her approach to image making explores the blending of photosensitive materials, digital media, printmaking and encaustics.
Grant County Art Guild Gallery
316 N Bullard St, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 240-7075
Non-profit organization supporting local artists by showing the work of 35 local artists at the gallery, hosting art shows, workshops, classes, open studios, and other art events.
Museums
Silver City Museum
312 W Broadway St, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 538-5921
The museum is located in the home of Henry Ailman, a prospector and businessman. He built the Mansard/Italianate Victorian home in 1881, making it the museum’s single largest artifact. When the family moved out, the building was used as a boarding house, city hall, the fire station (the bell is from that period), and renovated as the Silver City Museum in 1967. The museum houses a vast collection of historical objects — more than 50,000. The collection includes household and personal objects, clothing, furnishings, equipment, inventions, and technology from the early 20th century.
The museum opened in 1967, offering exhibitions, educational programs, community-wide events, and a gift store offering regional crafts, local history books, and southern New Mexico souvenir items. It is also a steward for a vast collection of historical objects. It has gained national recognition for its high standards of operation by being accredited by the American Alliance of Museums--one of only seven museums in all of New Mexico to receive this honor.
Hours
Tues - Fri: 9 AM - 4:30 PM
Sat & Sun: 10 AM - 4 PM
Closed Memorial Day and Labor Day. There is no admission fee, although a $5 donation is suggested.
Western New Mexico University Museum
1000 W College Ave, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 538-6386
The University Museum is housed in historic Fleming Hall. Built between 1916-1917, the building is the third oldest on campus. WNMU Museum advances understanding of the diverse cultural and artist heritages of Southwest New Mexico through research, collection, exhibition, and interpretation.
Lodging
Silver City Lodging
Bear Mountain Lodge
60 Bear Mountain Ranch Rd, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 538-2538
Bear Mountain Lodge features 12 rooms: six in the main building, four in Myra's Retreat, and one each in the secluded Wren's Nest and in The Coop. The 1928 Lodge building houses the spacious common area with its remarkable fireplaces and hand-hewn beams and staircase, as well as the art gallery, dining room, and gift shop.
Bear Creek Motel & Cabins
88 Main St, Pinos Altos, NM 88053
(575) 388-4501
15 cabins located in Pinos Altos, approximately 7 miles north of Silver City, on the edge of the Gila National Wilderness Area. Each 2-story cabin is custom designed for maximum privacy and offers all the modern amenities and conveniences todays travelers expect.
Georgetown Cabins Resort
104 Georgetown Rd, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 534-4529
Georgetown luxury vacation cabins are located approximately 18 miles from Silver City, on the way to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. Surrounded by the Gila National Forest, the cabins overlook the original mining town of Georgetown.
Murray Hotel
200 W Broadway St, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 956-9400
When it opened in 1938, the Murray Hotel immediately became known as the standard for Art Deco luxury and elegance in Southwest New Mexico. Restored and reopened in 2012, they have 53 guest rooms and suites. They serve a continental breakfast; however, they are located in the downtown near Bullard, with numerous restaurants, galleries, shops, and museums nearby.
Palace Hotel
106 W Broadway St, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 388-1811
Located in the heart of Silver City's historic downtown, the Palace Hotel is a friendly and quiet environment. The rooms and suites are reminiscent of a small, older hotels in France.
The building dates to 1882 when it was the Meredith & Ailman Bank. It was converted to a hotel in 1900 and has 20 “charming rooms and suites.” Rooms are decorated with period furnishings, including four-poster canopy beds.
Serenity House
411 W Broadway St, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 574-2696
A beautifully appointed historic estate close to downtown Silver City.
Dining
Silver City Dining
Birdwell's Vintage Vibes
602 N Bullard St, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 956-6467
Birdwell’s takes pride in offering guests only the freshest, highest quality products. From Kelly’s crafted baked goods, to the best local milk and highest quality teas that go into your boba, to locally roasted coffee, they tend to the details.
Chaos Sandwiches
809 N Hudson St, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 654-8175
If you are looking to grab a picnic lunch for adventures in the Gila, stop by Chaos sandwiches. They are about the same cost as fast food, but SO much better. Sandwiches are delicious and fresh, with lots of great options. Chupacabra sandwich (pulled pork) is a favorite.
Corner Kitchen
300 S Bullard St, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 590-2603
A small restaurant specializing in home-cooked food with flair. The menu changes daily, but the food is always good and they have a large outside seating area.
Diane's Bakery & Deli
601 N Bullard St, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 956-6258
Owner, Diane Barrett, is a talented pastry chef who moved to Silver City decades ago, opening Diane's restaurant in 1996. Her homemade sweet bread, pastries, cakes and pies became so popular, she opened Diane’s Bakery & Deli across the street in Hub Plaza on Bullard. If you have a chance to sample her pastries...DO IT!
Iron Door BBQ
1123 N Pope St, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 590-1495
Real Deal Texas style BBQ.
Taste of Vegas
303 E 13th St, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 534-9404
Taste of Vegas offers healthy alternative meals that include: sandwiches, shakes, lettuce wraps, and smoothies, all at a reasonable price.
Little Toad Creek Brewery
200 N Bullard St, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 956-6144
Little Toad Creek Brewery & Distillery is a craft brewer/distiller, specializing in beer & spirits. They have taprooms in Silver City & Las Cruces. Great co*cktails, outdoor seating, live music.
Javalina Coffee House
117 W Market St, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 388-1350
Javalina's offers a wide menu of coffees, specialty drinks, teas and nibbles. Old school cafe ambiance that inspires loitering and conversations with random strangers.
Sunrise Espresso
1408 N Hudson St, Silver City, NM 88061
silvercitysteve@gmail.com
Great coffee. Friendly staff. Fast service. Convenient location.
Tranquil Buzz Coffee House
300 N Arizona St, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 956-6476
A unique place, where you can sip your favorite beverage, munch your favorite pastry or lunch fare, kick back, and enjoy the spirit of Silver City. The decor is inherently relaxing, with tree branches inside and a painted sky and ample outdoor seating. Buzz owner, Dale, made the rustic tables, benches, and shelves. Everywhere you look, inside and out in the garden seating area there is art, story and culture.
