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MARFA,
TEXAS
Suggested
slogan:
"We've been leaving the lights on for you for 120 years."©
Presidio County Seat, West Texas
US 67 and 90, Hwy 17
26 miles W of Alpine
21 miles SW of Fort
Davis
93 miles SW of Pecos
159 miles SW of Odessa
74 miles SE of Van Horn
162 miles SE of El
Paso via I-10
Population: 2,121 (2000)
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The
"Reata" in 1968
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson |
"Honey,
what do you want to name this town?"
Most
everything about Marfa is unusual. The name, even in a state filled
with strange names, is unusual. It comes, so we're told, from a character
in Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Karamazov, the book being read
by the wife of a railroad executive as they passed through the region.
We're glad she wasn't reading The Idiot.
The Naming of Marfa
The Last Word on "Marfa" by Lee Lowry
Marfa Army Air Field and Fort
D. A. Russell
Besides being used as a locale for the movie Giant, and other films,
Marfa also served as a base for military aviation when they
were still using biplanes. Known as Marfa Army Air Field... more
The Marfa History
Club -
How History is Conducted in Marfa
"If it's not asked, it's not answered." - Lee Bennett more
Marfa is the second highest county seat in the state next to Ft.
Davis of neighboring Jeff Davis County. |
Marfa
street scene in the mid 1950s.
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
Marfa Landmarks
/ Attractions
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Prada
Marfa
West Texas gets a Long-overdue Infusion of Whimsey by German-based
Artists
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Marfa
Architecture - Buildings worthy of notice:
Presidio
County Courthouse
- History and images
El Paisano Hotel
- Designed by El Pasoan Architects Trost and Trost (still open for
business)
Chinati
Foundation/ La Fundacion Chinati
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Contemporary art museum. Located on former Fort D.A. Russell. 1
Calvary Row just off Route 67 south of Marfa.
The former
Palace Theater
The Brite Building
occupies the block south of El Paisano (c. 1931). Here the details
are somewhat stylized and abstract and are more Native American
influenced than the fine Spanish details of El Paisano.
Many handsome
residences.
The Marfa National
Bank (in the Brite Building) once served as Headquarters for the
Marfa Army Air Field (1942)
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L
- Marfa water tower and jail TE photo
R - Marfa mill Photo Courtesy Bob Hann |
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- The Palace Theater. TE photo
R - "Reata" the set for the movie "Giant". Courtesy
TXDoT |
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- A Marfa residence.
R - Brite Building (Marfa National Bank). TE photos |
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Marfa
street scene
TE photo |
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| "This
was the City Park of Marfa, Texas. It was located where the US Post
Office is now located. We used to stop and play at the City Park on
our way to and from seeing a matinee movie at the Marfa Theatre. -
Jo Ann Rivera Garcia, Former Marfan, January 30, 2007 |
Marfa
Tourist Information
The Marfa
Chamber of Commerce:
200 South Abbott.
432-729-4942
P.O. Box 635, Marfa, TX 79843
Website: www.iglobal.net/marfacoc
Marfa Area Hotels
Book Here & Save
Alpine
Hotels
Van
Horn Hotels
Lajitas
Hotels
More Hotels
Marfa
Texas Forum
To share
history or photos of Marfa, Texas, please contact
us.
© John Troesser
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