White Sands National Park guide · 1 min read
The WPA-Built Historic Visitor Center
The visitor center at White Sands was built between 1936 and 1940, when the Great Depression brought heavy federal spending on public works.
WPA workers constructed it, and its adobe design still shows their skill.
In 1990, the visitor center and seven nearby buildings, all dating from the same years, were officially designated the White Sands National Park Historic District. The buildings sit in a landscape of native plants. The district protects this architectural style and honors the plans of the architects and the craftsmanship of the workers who built it.
Inside the visitor center, look for decoratively carved corbels, benches and chairs. Individually crafted tin lighting fixtures also show the artistry in the building's construction and furnishings.
The building holds a museum with exhibits about the park, along with the park store. The visitor center also offers an orientation film for visitors to watch.
Parking here is limited. The front lot lies south of the visitor center and the back lot lies north of it. The front lot also has limited room for recreational and oversized vehicles. If the front lot is full, passenger vehicles should park in the back lot, which has no oversize parking.
