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We have been open since October 1, 2022, after only a few months of frantic planning and hard work getting the Hoover ready for guest again.
The idea of an art gallery has been on the minds of several people in the Columbus area for many years. In fact the Hoover has had an art gallery as well as several other businesses wthin its great walls since the infamous raid by Pancho Villa in March of 1916.
Mayor Salas fought a long hard battle to get to get the village to approve the purchase of the Historic Hoover Hotel. This has culminated into something that will be the center of many new things that will draw tourist to our area.
Bob Wright spearheaded forming our group with the intent of using the Hoover to benifit the multitude of creative people in the borderlands and the community as a whole. We are a dual facility. Part is the "Visitors Welcome Center" for Columbus, NM, and part is the "Desert Artistas Art Gallery".
The welcome center has refreshments for our guest. The normal gift shop "Columbus, NM" branded items will be available for purchase to remember your adventure here or to take home to friends and family. Everything is locally made or constructed by artist that live in the area or use material from the area.
The other part of the co-op is the Art Gallery. It houses all the fablous art work from our area. We have artist and crafters from BOTH sides of the border. This is where our artists and crafters can strut their creations.
The Hoover was constructed in the late 1800's in the facsion of the area, Adobe. It was in the center of the fight when Mr. Villa's villistas came across the border. There are many different tales of what actually happened but te Hoover was right in the moddle of the battle. The villiastas tried to burn the town down and almost did. There are still several structurs remainig and stories about all of them! Directly accross the street from the hotel is the only part of the bank that survived, the vault!
Enjoy your Summer Days
The Historic Hoover Hotel
Welcome Center
and Artistas Gallery
NEW SUMMER HOURS
Friday 11-5
Saturday 11-5
Come shop for that special, unique gift now!
203 Missouri Street
Columbus, NM 88029
575-531-0034