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MARFA,
TEXASSuggested
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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"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
Landmarks / Attractions |
| | Prada
Marfa
West Texas gets a Long-overdue Infusion of Whimsey by German-based
Artists |
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
-
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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L
- The Palace Theater. TE photo
R - "Reata" the set for the movie
"Giant". Courtesy TXDoT |
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L
- A Marfa residence.
R - Brite Building (Marfa National Bank). TE photos |
| | 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
street scene in the mid 1950s.
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history and vintage/historic
photos of their town/subject, please contact
us. | |
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