Clovis: Music History, Museums and Architecture

Clovis offers several distinct points of interest for a trip: early rock ’n’ roll history, distinctive theater and civic architecture, museums, and animal and recreational attractions. If you’re looking for a hotel in Clovis, you can first consider which of these themes you want to shape your stay: music and historic buildings, or animal watching, science and events?

Music History and Theater

The Norman Petty Studio is considered the birthplace of the “Clovis Sound.” Buddy Holly and other early rock ’n’ roll greats recorded their biggest hits there. Interested visitors can request a visit using the form on the website; check the visiting arrangements before your trip. The Clovis Music Festival is also part of the town’s musical history: it has held concerts since 1987.

The theaters offer different architectural points of interest. The State Theater in downtown Clovis was built in 1940 in the Modernist style. The Lyceum Theater, by contrast, is notable for its largely unchanged interior: it is the oldest surviving example in New Mexico of a large theater used for both live entertainment and film screenings. Here, a theater building with a clear construction date stands alongside a preserved example of the combination of stage and cinema.

Buildings and Local History

Built in 1936, the Curry County Courthouse is an Art Deco building with bas-reliefs from the Public Works Administration era. Its historical significance lies in its connection to the period when the Public Works Administration built courthouses. The construction date, style and reliefs each offer a different perspective on the building’s history.

The Clovis-Carver Library building also has a former public function: it was built in 1931 as the city’s post office. Architecture enthusiasts can consider this history alongside the Modernist State Theater and the Art Deco features of the courthouse. The three details tell different stories: they concern a theater, a courthouse and a former post office.

Museums, Animals and Recreation

The Eula Mae Edwards Museum & Gallery features a permanent exhibition of artifacts from Indigenous peoples. Eula Mae Edwards and her husband Jack collected these objects over a period of 20 years. The Interactive Science Museum has a different focus, offering an interactive, hands-on science experience. It may open by appointment for small groups, as well as school and field-trip groups.

At Hillcrest Park Zoo, visitors can see, among other animals, a Bengal tiger, giraffes, reptiles and primates. The zoo is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; check the opening hours before your visit. Giraffe Encounters & Feeding offers a unique experience: you can hand-feed giraffes. Touching them is only possible under certain safety conditions and if the animal allows it. Check availability for this experience in advance.

The Splash Park features a zero-depth water area and 17 family-friendly water features for children of all ages. The City of Clovis’s Sunken Rose Garden offers another, quieter option: the rose garden was designed by local artist Patsy Delk. Animal watching, water activities and garden art thus appeal to different interests.

The Clovis Wing-Shooting Complex and Archery Range includes four trap and skeet fields, a 12-station sporting clays course, indoor and outdoor archery facilities, and an indoor air rifle range. The facility also offers hunter education participants a place to further develop their knowledge of firearm safety. The variety of fields and facilities reflects the different types of shooting and archery available there.

Events and Railroad History

Food Truck Fridays bring new offerings to downtown Clovis every week. Pioneer Days Rodeo began in 1970 as a professional rodeo and continues to host some of the world’s best professional rodeo competitors. The Curry County Fair is a community-focused event featuring rodeos, livestock shows, rides and live entertainment for all ages; the program may vary from one edition to another. If you want to plan your trip around an event, check the dates and program information in advance.

The Phil and Vernah Williams Historic Railroad Park offers another historical perspective, where visitors can learn about railroad history. Together with the studio, theaters and historic buildings, it adds another option to the range of themes for your stay.

For the broader travel overview: Curry.