This year has come and gone in the blink of an eye!
Through the Arts & Cultural District in Carlsbad, the Pearl of the Pecos, we have worked for the past four years to receive our state designation as an authorized Arts & Cultural District. Throughout this process, we have worked on projects and events, seeing the needs of our community to help further the growth of the creative economy in Carlsbad and the surrounding area. One focus of our organization is historic preservation. I believe that to know where we are going, we must also know where we have been by preserving history and heritage as best as possible.
America, as a country, is new compared to other countries, and there has not always been an emphasis on preservation efforts. While I believe that is changing, there is still work to do to ensure that culture is remembered. We have a unique opportunity to be on the front lines in helping to preserve the history of our community, the buildings, and the stories associated with them.
In partnership with Carlsbad Public Library and the SENM Historical Society, Carlsbad MainStreet has been working on a project that illuminates the importance of preservation with the Carlsbad Heritage Walks. This was created to be a self-guided walking tour and interactive walking map of the Arts & Cultural District, MainStreet district, and historical districts. Carlsbad has a rich history, and we are working to preserve it through this project. As a group, we identified some significant buildings and landmarks in our downtown. We located members of our community associated with those buildings and conducted interviews, learning the history of the buildings through their eyes. Carlsbad Heritage Walks will take you through the heart of our community while revealing new facts and stories about the area and buildings along the way.
I hope you will take the time to learn and explore our community and the heritage that is associated with it. Whether it is learning what once occupied a building you have always admired or taking a stroll through your local museum or library to learn about those who lived here before us, whatever you choose, I hope that you always strive to be aware and appreciate those who came before you to allow you to be where you are today.
Happy Holidays!
Kat Davis,
Executive Director, Carlsbad MainStreet Arts & Cultural District
102 S. Canyon | Carlsbad, NM
(575) 628-3768
CarlsbadMainStreet.com
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Kat Davis
I am the Executive Director for Carlsbad MainStreet/Arts & Cultural District. My career began in 2020 as the Director for Carlsbad’s Pearl of the Pecos ACD and at the beginning of 2022 the MainStreet board merged these positions into one. I was born and raised in Ireland and have a diverse background that drives my passion to make my community a better place through many different service organizations, volunteering, and our work through Carlsbad MainStreet.
