Rio Grande Theatre
National Register of Historic Places

Rio Grande Theatre

Las Cruces, Dona Ana County, New Mexico
Listed
January 2, 2004
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
03001352

About this property

The Rio Grande Theatre in Las Cruces, New Mexico was opened on July 29, 1926. The theatre was built by Seale and Dyne and operated by the Central Theatres Corporation of Denver. The first movie shown was the silent movie Mare Nostrum, directed by Rex Ingram. Fox West Coast Theatres bought the Rio Grande Theatre in October 1929. The Fox chain installed sound equipment and showed a sound picture for the October 20, 1929 opening night. The theatre survived both an earthquake and a fire in the early 1930s. It remained in operation until 1997, when it closed due to financial hardship. The theatre was purchased by the Dona Ana Arts Council and restored, opening again in 2005. Many major musical artists have performed at the Rio Grande Theatre including Judy Collins, Joe Bonamassa, and Wishbone Ash.

Location

211 N. Downtown Mall
Las Cruces, Dona Ana County, New Mexico
32.31071, -106.77882

Categories

ARCHITECTUREENTERTAINMENT/RECREATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Rio Grande Theatre

This page lists Rio Grande Theatre. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Rio Grande Theatre report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Mesquite Street Original Townsite Historic District
Listed
0.3 mi
Branigan, Thomas, Memorial Library
Industrial
0.3 mi
Armijo, Nestor, House
Industrial
0.4 mi
Alameda-Depot Historic District
Listed
0.4 mi
Phillips Chapel CME Church
Industrial
0.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Rio Grande Theatre listed on the National Register?

Rio Grande Theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 2, 2004.

What type of historic resource is Rio Grande Theatre?

Rio Grande Theatre is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Rio Grande Theatre?

The period of significance for Rio Grande Theatre is recorded as the industrial era, specifically around 1926.

Can I research the history near Rio Grande Theatre?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Rio Grande Theatre will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Dona Ana County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Dona Ana County.

Explore Dona AnaCounty ›

More historic places in New Mexico

Browse all historic places in New Mexico.

View New Mexicohistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

New Mexico history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

New Mexicohistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Rio Grande Theatre will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report