email: roadarch@outlook.com

New Mexico Signs (page 1)

(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)

Home Furniture
Alamogordo, NM		 Rocket Motel [gone]
Alamogordo, NM		 Rocket Lounge
Alamogordo, NM		 White Sands Motel
Alamogordo, NM
The Home Furniture Co. sign is probably from the 1950s. [map]

The White Sands Missile Range is located just outside Alamogordo. At one time, Alamogordo was known as "the Rocket City."

The Rocket Motel sign was later adapted for a fireworks business many years later. I believe the motel was built in the 1950s. This sign was removed in 2020 and is now in a private collection.

The Rocket Lounge has been replaced with this strip mall but this sign remains. Around 2022 it was repainted white and blue. "Alamo" letters were added to the sides of the rocket. [map]

For space-inspired signs, see this page.

The White Sands Motel sign is probably from the 1960s. [map]

Bowlin's
Running Indian
Alamogordo, NM		 Bowlin's
Running Indian
Las Cruces, NM
2008: 2017: 2012:
Bowlin's Running Indian in Alamogordo is a fireworks and souvenir stand. This sign is probably from the 1950s. It was repainted sometime after 2015. For more, see this website. [map]

The Bowlin's Running Indian in Las Cruces is located at Bowlin's Old West Trading Post, another fireworks and souvenir stand. [map]

More Alamogordo:
Acme Drive-in Cleaners [gone]
Satellite Inn [gone]

J.S. Ward &
Son Insurance [gone]
Artesia, NM		 Hotel Belen
Belen, NM
J.S. Ward & Son Insurance was founded in Artesia in 1925 and has other offices now. This sign appeared to be from the 1950s or 1960s. It was gone by 2022.

The Hotel Belen was built in 1907. This ripple tin sign might be from the 1930s or 1940s. [map]

More Belen:
Buckland Pharmacy
Sugar Bowl Lanes [gone]

Cortez Restaurant [gone]
Carlsbad, NM		 Foster Sheet Metal [gone]
Carlsbad, NM		 China Lantern
Cafe [gone]
Carlsbad, NM
The Cortez Restaurant had been here since at least the 1950s. The restaurant closed around 2012 and the sign was gone by 2013.

The Foster Sheet Metal building appears to be from the 1940s. This sign was probably from the 1950s or 1960s. The business had closed by 2013 and the sign was painted over. By 2015, the sign and sheet metal man were gone. For more, see this website.

I believe the China Lantern Cafe opened in 1952. This sign was probably from then. This photo is from 2012. By 2013, the building was housing a Mexican restaurant but this sign is still there. By 2019, the sign was gone.

More Carlsbad:
First Assembly of God [map]
Furr's Family Dining [gone]

Sands Motel
Carrizozo, NM		 Carrizozo Hardware
Carrizozo, NM
The Sands Motel sign is probably from the 1960s. For more, see this website. [map]

The former Carrizozo Hardware opened in 1933. This part of the store's sign survives. The freestanding "Hardware" block letters had been removed by 2007. This sign presumably had neon originally. The building now houses an antiques store. [map]

B's Nu-Way Cafe
Clayton, NM		 Bicycles
Cloudcroft, NM		 Westward
Ho Motel
Clovis, NM
B's Nu-Way Cafe is long gone but this sign remains. [map]

This Bicycles sign is installed inside the High Altitude bicycle and outdoor shop. The sign is probably from the 1950s or earlier. This photo is from 2017. The neon was accidentally broken and is no longer working.

The Westward Ho Motel sign design must have been inspired by the classic Holiday Inn sign. The motel might have had a different name originally and neon where the plastic panels are now. The star on top is mangled now. [map]

More Clovis:
Clovis Safety Lane
Santa Fe

Cuban Cafe
Cuba, NM		 Mirador
Motel [gone]
Deming, NM		 Baker Hotel
Deming, NM		 Western Motel
Deming, NM
The Cuban Cafe sign appears to be from the 1950s or 1960s. [map]

The Mirador Motel was still operating when this photo was taken in 2008. By 2012, it had become an American Inn and this sign was replaced with a plastic one. For more, see this website.

The Baker Hotel is closed but this sign remains. The building is from 1886. The sign is probably from the 1920s or 1930s. For more, see this website. [map]

This Western Motel is located behind the motel, facing the interstate. It is probably from the late 1950s or 1960s. The sign in front of the motel has more plastic and is not as nice. There was another sign before that with bulbs and neon. [map]

More Cuba:
Del Prado Motel [map]
Frontier Motel [map]

Balboa Motel
Deming, NM
The Balboa Motel has been around since at least 1960. The neon sign is probably from the 1950s. I assume there was originally neon "MOTEL" letters under the panel that is there now. These plastic RCA TV signs were mass-produced and very common. They are now very rare. [map]

Anselment's Butterfield Stage Motel
Deming, NM
The Anselment's Butterfield Stage Motel and sign were built in 1961. The sign was originally animated but is now only partially lit. For more, see this website. [map]

NM (page 2) NM (page 3) NM (page 4) NM (page 5) NM (page 6)
Albuquerque Gallup

Main Signs Page