Artesia, New Mexico: Large Old West Statues
The "History in Bronze" series currently features seven impressive sculptures portraying Artesia history. Several of them feature oil exploration, which perhaps explains how the town could afford such fancy public art.
- Address:
- W. Main St., Artesia, NM
- Directions:
- The statues stand at various downtown corners along W. Main St.
- Admission:
- Free
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour
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Visitor Tips and News About Large Old West Statues
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Someone decorated the sculptures for Christmas.
[Leslie, 01/06/2017]
Seven larger-than-life bronze statues are scattered up and down Main Street in Artesia. They depict cowboys, oil drillers, a teacher with kids, and several others. There are also a few large murals scattered around town. Definitely worth the time to check them out if you're in the area.
[Phrank Phester, 03/06/2013]
On highway 285 N on New Mexico, between Carlsbad and Roswell, on the right hand side in a gas station parking lot there stands an impressively large bronze statue called "trail boss." The work, by Vic Payne of Lander, Wyoming, is circa March 24 2007 and includes plaques with much historical data about early western cattle drivers, if you seriously care enough to read it. Worth slowing down, maybe a stop, definitely not a detour.
[Stephanie, 06/27/2010]Nearby Offbeat Places



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The sculptures, some of considerable size and all made of bronze, were placed along Main Street beginning in 2003. Definitely an upscale community art project.