Marfa, Cultural center in West Texas, United States
Marfa is a small town in Presidio County in West Texas, sitting at an elevation of 4685 feet (1428 meters) between the Davis Mountains and Big Bend National Park. The streets run in a grid pattern, lined with low brick and stucco buildings, beyond which the plain opens with grass tufts and distant mountain ranges on the horizon.
The settlement began in the 1880s as a water stop for the railroad, serving travelers and trains crossing the desert. During World War II, the army built an air base here, which briefly raised the population before closing in the late 1940s.
The art gallery scene draws visitors from around the world to this small town, where they can see works by contemporary artists in former military buildings. Many studios and exhibition spaces open their doors on weekends and show sculptures, photographs and paintings that often reference the desert landscape.
The nearest major city with an airport lies about three hours away by car in El Paso, while lodging options range from small hotels to vacation rentals. The elevation brings cool nights even in summer, with days mostly sunny and little shade along the streets.
At night, bright lights sometimes appear over the desert south of town, first observed in the 1880s and now visible from a dedicated viewing platform. These lights move slowly or split apart, and their cause remains unexplained despite many theories.
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