Arkansas Valley Fairgrounds Art Building

For more than a century, the Arkansas Valley Fair has been an Otero County tradition. The popularity of Watermelon Day started by Colorado Senator George Swink in 1878 gave rise to one of the longest-running festivals in Colorado. Built in 1901, the Art Building is the fairground's oldest building. Join the decades of attendees who have enjoyed its unique presentation of local arts and crafts within its octagonal shape. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the structure is a well-preserved example of the "Octagon Mode," which enjoyed some popularity in home and barn design in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.