Marfa, Texas
Marfa sits on a grassland plateau in far West Texas at 4,830 feet. It is a ranching town that became a destination for art, and it manages to be both without trying too hard.
A little history
Marfa was founded in 1883 as a railroad water stop and freight headquarters, and it is the county seat of Presidio County at US 90/67. The name is reportedly taken from a character in a Jules Verne novel. The Presidio County Courthouse, at 300 Highland Street, was built in 1886 by architect Alfred Giles and has a dome with views.
In the early 1970s artist Donald Judd bought acreage that included the buildings of Fort D. A. Russell, and the Chinati Foundation continues his work today. The population was 1,750 in 2021, per the Texas State Historical Association.
What to do
Art. Chinati is the big one. Guided tours are the way to see most of the collection, and advance tickets are recommended. One thing to verify: Judd’s 100 untitled works in mill aluminum are reportedly closed for restoration beginning in October 2026. Check chinati.org for hours and what is open before you plan around it. Ballroom Marfa is a non-collecting contemporary art nonprofit in a restored 1920s ballroom, founded in 2003.
The Marfa Lights viewing area. It is on the south side of US 90, about nine miles east of Marfa. The earliest recorded sighting dates to 1883. A study from 2000 to 2008 concluded the lights are car headlights distorted by warm air, but plenty of people still go to watch for them. The town holds a Marfa Lights Festival on Labor Day weekend.
Prada Marfa. This permanent sculpture by Elmgreen & Dragset was inaugurated October 1, 2005, near Valentine, about 35 miles northwest of Marfa on US 90. The door does not open. Park on the roadside carefully, because traffic moves fast.
Hotel Paisano. Completed in 1930 and designed by Trost & Trost, it housed the cast and crew of the film Giant in 1955. The film was released in 1956.
Getting there
Marfa is a long drive from Houston, Austin and San Antonio, so check a current map. It sits between the Davis Mountains and Big Bend on US 90.
When to go
Events include the Marfa Lights Festival on Labor Day weekend and, in May, the Marfa Invitational. See visitmarfa.com for current dates.
One practical tip
Call or check the official sites before you plan your days. Art venues here run on their own schedules, and some are by tour only.
Keep exploring
Marfa pairs well with a trip to Big Bend and the mining ghost town of Terlingua.