NPS Photo by Stella Carroll Enter the Visitor Center. Once well inside the door, take a moment to look up and around and enjoy the ambiance of the building. This room contains a variety of extremely decorative elements. Notice the original Spanish Colonial pierced-tin light fixtures and the woodworking around the walls, including all the interior corbels. Also, look at the latillas, above the vigas. The latillas in this room are arranged in a diagonal or herringbone pattern, while others in the complex are usually laid perpendicular to the vigas. The fancy diagonal pattern is usually reserved for public use buildings rather than offices or quarters. The flooring is chunks of native volcanic rock. Building a fireplace in a corner is a tradition widespread in New Mexico, and here bancos were built extending from its sides. There is another corner fireplace in the auditorium, as well as more tin light fixtures. |
Last updated: January 18, 2022