Federal Building
a.k.a. Old Courthouse Building
421 Gold Ave., SW, Albuquerque, NMThe 1930 Federal Building, the second still standing national government building to be built in Albuquerque, is the only downtown government structure which salutes the southwestern heritage. Its use of Indian designs as a decorative motif both on its exterior and interior restrainedly echo the Indian fantasies on the nearby Kimo Theater (National Register, 5-2-77), which was built just three years earlier. The building is significant for its architectural style, for its fine mural of the 1680 Pueblo Revolt, for its courtroom which is being restored, and for its notable contribution to the character of downtown Albuquerque.
According to the cornerstone, the supervising architect for the building was James A. Wetmore. Local inquiries have not uncovered more information about Mr. Wet more and a request for information from the General Services Administration Historic Officer has not yet been answered. The building has always been used for government offices; until 1966 it served as the federal courthouse, housing judicial offices, a law library, and the federal courtroom (now being restored).
Now used to house a number of federal agencies, the building forms a most distinguished part of the complex of four federal office buildings grouped on Gold Avenue between 4th and 5th Streets. Its handsome proportions and southwestern decorative motifs make it a particularly significant building in Albuquerque.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.