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Silver City & Grant County

Southwest New Mexico

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One of the '100 Best Small Towns in America', Silver City has been a lovely home to many for over than 1,200 years. It's unique combination of climate, lifestyle, environment and opportunity, is now drawing new visitors and residents from around the world. Located in Grant County, and nestled in the foothills of the Pinos Altos Mountains at an elevation of 6,000 feet, Silver City borders the Continental Divide. Boasting crisp clean air and beautiful sunny days, Silver City offers four gentle seasons to enjoy.

Explore Historic Silver City & Grant County.
Discover more about the colorful history of Silver City, dating back to 1870 when silver was discovered above La Cienega (Marsh) de San Vicente. Tales from those early days tell of characters like Billy the Kid, Geronimo, Judge Roy Bean, "Dangerous" Dan Tucker, and the Hearst family. Explore the ancient cultures and see collections of distinctive black on white pottery that was developed one thousand years ago by Mimbres Indians inhabiting the Silver City area.

Nestled in the heart of Silver City, the vibrant Historic Downtown district is home to art galleries, bars, restaurants, the Town Hall, quaint homes, the city library, Western New Mexico University, the Silver City Museum, and more .The Silver City Museum celebrates the rich and diverse cultural heritage of southwestern New Mexico by collecting, preserving, researching and interpreting the region's unique history. Housed in the restored 1881 Mansard/Italianate H.B. Ailman House, the museum collection features over 20,000 objects relating to the peoples and history of southwest New Mexico, has a Local History Research Library, and a Museum Store.

The La Capilla Heritage Park project recreated a small chapel, that once graced Silver City’s skyline during the late 1800s and early 1900s. As part of an ongoing 23-acre heritage park development by Silver City and civic groups,  La Capilla is just south of historic downtown Silver City and forms the heart of a growing area of trails, civic monuments and other recreation areas.

Located less than 15 minutes from downtown Silver City, Fort Bayard played a big part in protecting settlers and miners in the Los Pinos and Silver City mining districts. The fort was home to hundreds of soldiers including Buffalo Soldiers, who battled many Apache war leaders, including Victorio, Nana, and Geronimo. Today, the fort maintains many historic buildings and monuments.

Experience The Arts!
Silver City boasts a thriving art community, and a host of opportunites to experience the arts including live music events and festivals, film and entertainment, art and craft exhibits, book readings and literary events. Silver City's Art & Cultural District includes Historic Downtown and the WNMU campus, and extends to the broader Grant County area.

Housed on the campus of Western New Mexico University, The WNMU Museum houses one of the world's most complete and comprehensive collections of Mimbres pottery, basketry, and other artifacts, in the Eisele Collection of Prehistoric Southwestern Pottery and Artifacts. The Pinos Altos Opera House is a cabaret-style theatre housed in the historic Opera House, in the quaint historic mining and mountain town of Pinos Altos, located in the foothills of the Gila National Forest.

Visit the nearby 3.3 million-acre Gila National Forest & Wilderness areas.
Offering a glimpse of the homes and lives of the people of the Mogollon culture who lived in the Gila Wilderness from the 1280s through the early 1300s, the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is surrounded by the Gila National Forest and lies at the edge of the Gila Wilderness, the nation's first designated wilderness area. Encompassing over 500,000 acres of rugged mountains, deep canyons, meadows, and semi-desert country; and boasting elevations that range from 4,200 to 10,900 feet; Gila National Forest is home to a plethora of flora and fauna, and has a colorful history made up of Mogollon and Apache Indians, Spaniards, Mexicans, ranchers, prospectors and miners, and more. Though just 44 miles from Silver City, it is about a 2 hour drive through the mountains.

About an hour north of Silver City, and just 5 miles from Glenwood, The Catwalk National Scenic Trail offers a glimpse into the geologic and historic foundations of Grant County. The result of cataclysmic volcanic actions, the area now features a beautiful picnic spot next to Whitewater Creek, and a challenging one-mile trail along the historic 1890's mining waterway.

There are lakes such as Bill Evans Lake, Bear Canyon to Lake and Lake Roberts, where once can enjoy fishing, picnics, bird watching, boating or camping. Part of Silver City's Trails & Open Spaces initiative, the Boston Hill, San Vicente Creek and other trail areas keep important parts of the region's natural environment and historic areas available to hikers and other visitors. About 30 minutes from Silver City, the City of Rocks State Park is home to fascinating rock formations, and features cactus gardens and hiking trails, birding and wildlife watching.

The Trail of the Mountain Spirits is a beautiful scenic byway, starting in Silver City and winding more than 90 miles through the Gila Wilderness, leading you through the heart of New Mexico’s Olde West.

Offering a full calendar of fun events and activities throughout the year, visitors to Silver City also enjoy fantastic, authentic Mexican food; play 18 holes of golf; explore museums and galleries; or shop the day away for unique Southwestern art and souvenirs. Relax in cabins, campgrounds, bed and breakfast inns, historic hotels and modern motels.

Plan Your Visit to Silver City & Grant County, New Mexico - Visit www.SilverCityTourism.org

Proudly supported by the lodgers and lodgers' tax of Silver City

Photos courtesy Silver City ACD, some photos by Jim Rogers

Silver City & Grant Calendar of Events
Silver City & Grant County in southwest New Mexico is host to a number of annual festivals and a full calendar or events including art exhibits, craft shows, culinary events, liver performances and concerts, and more.

Cow Trail Art Studio

Visit artist Victoria Chick's Cow Trail Art Studio in Arenas Valley, New Mexico. Open: NOON to 3 p.m. Mon., Thurs., Fri., & Sat.

Address: 19 Cow Trail, Arenas Valley, New Mexico. The driveway gate will be open during the above days and hours. Tel: (760) 533-1897

www.ArtistVictoriaChick.com    

"New Mexico's Most Enchanting Cowboy"
Cowboy poet and entertainer Mike Moutoux plays a mix of songs, mostly his own, but always includes some classics the audience is sure to recognize. Expect wild rides, cattle drives and lots of New Mexico scenery as seen through the eyes of a cowboy. Mike also writes and performs cowboy poetry sprinkling his performances with humor and rare glimpses into the cowboy world.
www.EnchantingCowboy.com

Silver City & Grant County Visitor Info

The Silver City Arts and Cultural District is the arts, culture, dining, entertainment, events, lodging, outdoor and vacation guide to Silver City and Grant County, New Mexico! www.SilverCityTourism.org

Funded in part by Silver City Lodger's Tax