Tower Court Explained

Tower Court
Designated Other1:N.M. State Register of Cultural Properties
Designated Other1 Date:September 17, 1993[1]
Designated Other1 Number:1573
Designated Other1 Num Position:bottom
Coordinates:35.095°N -106.6739°W
Built:1939
Added:November 22, 1993
Refnum:93001216

The Tower Court[2] [3] [4] is a historic motel on Central Avenue (former U.S. Route 66) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is notable as one of only a few 1930s motels remaining in the city.[5] [6] The motel was built in 1939 by Ben F. Shear[7] and was added to the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties and the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.[1]

The motel is a U-shaped, flat-roofed building with 16 units surrounding a central parking area. It is one story high except for the central section, which has two units on the second floor reached by an interior staircase. The exterior walls are stuccoed and include modest Streamline Moderne elements like rounded corners and horizontal decorative moldings. The front of the property originally included a 30feet stepped tower which was the motel's namesake, but it has been removed.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: State and National Register Spreadsheet . New Mexico Department of Historic Preservation . May 29, 2020 . Excel .
  2. The property is listed in the NRHP as the Tower Courts; however, contemporary sources including photos, postcards, and advertisements gave the name as Tower Court.
  3. Web site: Tower Court, modern-in-every-detail, 2210 Central Ave., S. W., Albuquerque, New Mexico . Tichnor Brothers Postcard Collection . Digital Commonwealth . June 10, 2020 . Newspapers.com.
  4. News: Tower Court . June 10, 2020 . Albuquerque Journal . Advertisement . November 30, 1939.
  5. Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=93001216}} National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Tower Courts ]. . November 22, 1993. with
  6. Book: Hinckley . Jim . The Route 66 Encyclopedia . 2012 . Voyageur Press . 978-1-61058-688-7 . 256 . June 10, 2020 . en.
  7. New Tower Courts . Albuquerque Progress . July 1939 . 6 . 5 . 3 . June 10, 2020.