Belen Hotel
The Belen Hotel is a historic building in Belen, New Mexico, built in 1907 as a two-story structure with distinctive red brick walls arranged in decorative patterns. The L-shaped building features a chamfered corner and sits on Becker Avenue, originally serving as lodging and a cafe run by German immigrant Bertha Rutz.
The hotel was built in 1907 for Bertha Rutz, a German immigrant who operated it until her death in 1953, providing lodging for generations of railroad and traveling workers. In 1980 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and in 1996 artist Judy Chicago and her husband purchased and transformed it into a private residence.
The building carries the name of Belen, the town that grew around the railroad. Its red brick walls remain part of the local streetscape, reminding people of the era when trains shaped daily life and commerce in the area.
The building is located on Becker Avenue in downtown Belen and is now a private residence, so visitors can only view it from the outside and admire its architecture. As a protected historic site, its architectural details and red brick facade are best photographed during daylight hours.
The building was purchased in 1996 by artist Judy Chicago, known for her work in painting and sculpture, and transformed into a residence over three years. This blend of historic railroad-era architecture with artistic reinterpretation makes it a distinctive presence in town.
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