WPA Era Murals Return Spotlight at McKinley County Courthouse Tours

The McKinley County Courthouse in Gallup is drawing renewed attention for its collection of public art created under the Works Progress Administration, with local organizers offering guided tours that take visitors through murals and installations from the 1930s and 1940s. The courthouse itself was a WPA project, and the artworks inside were commissioned as part of broader New Deal programs intended to bring art into civic spaces during a period of national economic crisis.

Organizers leading the tours emphasize that the courthouse and Gallup Public Library are standout sites for understanding how federal relief programs shaped local built and cultural environments. The guided visits are conducted by people with direct ties to the local WPA art project efforts, and they are structured to provide historical context on the origin of the pieces, the artists who created them, and the broader social goals behind public art funding during the New Deal era.

For McKinley County residents the value of the tours is both cultural and practical. The artworks are part of the county's civic heritage and represent a tangible link to 20th century federal investment in community infrastructure. For local schools and civic groups, the tours offer an accessible educational resource that connects classroom history lessons to material culture in the community. For businesses in downtown Gallup, guided visitors represent a modest but steady source of foot traffic that can support restaurants, shops, and lodging when promoted as part of broader cultural tourism efforts.

At a policy level the tours point to questions about preservation and funding. WPA era materials require conservation and routine maintenance, and local governments commonly seek state or federal historic preservation grants to defray those costs. Highlighting the courthouse collection can strengthen grant applications and community fundraising by demonstrating public interest and educational use. Renewed attention to New Deal art also aligns with larger trends in heritage tourism where travelers increasingly seek authentic historical experiences that support local economies.

The tours also serve as a reminder of the dual purpose of New Deal projects, which combined employment objectives with long lasting public investments in infrastructure and culture. As communities like Gallup weigh future investments in preservation and tourism promotion, the courthouse murals provide a case study in how historical assets can be leveraged for civic pride and economic benefit.

Residents and visitors interested in the tours are encouraged to contact local organizers for schedules and additional information. The guided visits offer a concise, accessible way to view original New Deal artworks, learn about the historical role of the Works Progress Administration, and appreciate the county s civic and artistic heritage.