How to Find Hidden Murals in Old Town Albuquerque

Old Town Albuquerque is more than a historic district—it’s an open-air gallery where centuries of culture, resistance, and creativity converge on weathered adobe walls. While the Santa Fe Trail, the San Felipe de Neri Church, and the Plaza are well-trodden landmarks, the true soul of this neighborhood often hides in plain sight: in the vibrant, overlooked, and sometimes forgotten murals that adorn alleyways, side buildings, and unassuming storefronts. These murals are not just decorative; they are historical documents, political statements, and spiritual expressions etched into the city’s fabric. Finding them requires more than a map—it demands curiosity, context, and a willingness to wander beyond the postcard views.

This guide is your comprehensive resource for uncovering the hidden murals of Old Town Albuquerque. Whether you’re a local resident, a visiting art enthusiast, or a digital nomad seeking authentic cultural experiences, this tutorial will equip you with the strategies, tools, and insider knowledge to discover murals that most tourists never see. You’ll learn how to read the urban landscape, use digital and physical resources effectively, and understand the cultural narratives embedded in each piece. By the end, you won’t just find murals—you’ll understand why they matter.

Step-by-Step Guide

Finding hidden murals in Old Town Albuquerque is not a random scavenger hunt. It’s a methodical process that blends historical awareness, observational skills, and local insight. Follow these seven steps to systematically uncover the most meaningful and least documented murals in the district.

Step 1: Understand the Historical Context

Before you step outside, take time to understand why murals exist in Old Town. Albuquerque’s artistic heritage is deeply rooted in Indigenous Pueblo, Spanish colonial, and Chicano movements. The 1960s and 70s saw a surge in Chicano muralism as a form of cultural affirmation and resistance. Artists used public walls to reclaim space, celebrate heritage, and protest marginalization. Many of the murals you’ll find today were commissioned by community organizations, churches, or grassroots collectives—not city tourism boards.

Recognizing this context helps you distinguish between decorative art and culturally significant work. Murals with Indigenous symbols, Nahuatl or Spanish text, or depictions of la Virgen de Guadalupe often carry deeper meaning than commercial murals painted for cafes or boutiques. Start by reading about the Chicano Movement in New Mexico, the role of the Royal Chicano Art Force (RCAF), and the legacy of artists like Rupert García and Carlos Bueno.

Step 2: Walk the Perimeter, Not the Plaza

Most visitors circle the Plaza, photograph the church, and leave. The hidden murals lie beyond this tourist corridor. Begin your hunt by walking the outer edges of Old Town: First Street, Second Street, and the alleys between them. Focus on the north and west sides of the district, where older, less gentrified buildings still hold original artwork.

Look for:

• Walls facing away from the main thoroughfares
• Buildings with peeling paint or exposed adobe
• Storefronts with faded signage or boarded-up windows
• Alleys with uneven cobblestones or overhead utility wires

These are the spaces where murals were historically painted—often without permits, and often forgotten. The most powerful murals are rarely the most visible.

Step 3: Use the “Eye Level Rule”

Many murals are painted at or just above eye level, but they’re often obscured by signage, plants, or parked vehicles. To spot them, walk slowly and look horizontally—not up. Crouch slightly to view walls from a lower angle. This perspective reveals murals that have been partially covered by new paint, graffiti tags, or construction materials.

Pay attention to textures. Murals are often painted with acrylics or latex that sit differently on adobe than modern paint. Look for areas where the color appears slightly raised, cracked, or layered. These are telltale signs of older, hand-painted artwork.

Step 4: Follow the Light

Light reveals what eyes miss. Visit Old Town during late afternoon, especially between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM. The low-angle sunlight casts long shadows across walls, highlighting texture, depth, and color variations that are invisible in midday glare. Murals painted with metallic pigments or white outlines become dramatically visible under this golden hour light.

Bring a small flashlight or use your phone’s LED. Shine it across walls at a shallow angle. This technique, used by archaeologists to detect ancient carvings, works equally well for revealing faded murals beneath layers of grime or overpaint.

Step 5: Talk to Local Artisans and Shopkeepers

No digital map or app can replace the knowledge of someone who’s lived in Old Town for decades. Visit small businesses that have been open for 20+ years: hardware stores, bookshops, taquerias, and art galleries. Ask questions like:

• “Have you seen any murals painted on the back of this building over the years?”
• “Do you remember who painted the one near the old pharmacy?”
• “Are there any walls that used to have art but got painted over?”

Many shopkeepers remember murals that were painted and removed decades ago. One local florist near the corner of Second and Central recalled a 1978 mural of a maize goddess that was painted over in 1992—details that led to the rediscovery of a fragment still visible under a layer of whitewash.

Offer to buy a coffee or a small trinket. People are more likely to share stories when they feel respected, not interrogated.

Step 6: Document and Cross-Reference

Take photos of every wall that catches your eye—even if it looks like a random splash of color. Use your phone’s camera in high-resolution mode and capture the entire wall, not just the focal point. Note the exact location using GPS coordinates (enable location services) or a landmark (e.g., “20 feet east of the green metal door with the broken hinge”).

Later, cross-reference your photos with historical archives, community forums, and local university collections. The University of New Mexico’s Center for Southwest Research holds digitized images of murals from the 1970s–1990s. The Albuquerque Museum’s online collection also includes oral histories from muralists. Matching your photos with archived images can reveal murals that no longer exist—or confirm the discovery of a previously undocumented piece.

Step 7: Respect and Preserve

Never touch, spray, or attempt to clean a mural. Many are fragile, and even a gentle wipe can remove decades of pigment. If you find a mural that’s deteriorating, report it to the Albuquerque Arts Alliance or the City of Albuquerque Cultural Affairs Department. Do not share exact locations on social media if the mural is unprotected—overexposure can lead to vandalism or premature removal for “renovation.”

Your role is not just a discoverer—you’re a guardian of cultural memory.

Best Practices

Discovering hidden murals is a rewarding pursuit, but it requires ethical, thoughtful engagement. Follow these best practices to ensure your exploration enhances—not exploits—the cultural landscape of Old Town.

Practice Patience and Presence

There are no shortcuts. Rushing through alleyways with a checklist defeats the purpose. Spend at least 90 minutes per session. Sit on a bench. Observe how light changes. Listen to the sounds of the neighborhood. Murals often reveal themselves slowly, like a memory surfacing.

Learn Basic Spanish and Indigenous Terminology

Many murals include phrases in Spanish or Nahuatl. Understanding words like “Raíces” (roots), “Orgullo” (pride), “Aztlan” (homeland), or “Tlalli” (earth) helps you decode meaning. Even basic familiarity shows respect to the artists and communities who created them.

Avoid Commercialized Zones

Murals on the main plaza, near souvenir shops, or on buildings with “Art Gallery” signs are often commissioned for tourism. While beautiful, they rarely carry the same cultural weight as those in working-class neighborhoods. Focus on areas where residents live, work, and worship—not where visitors shop.

Photograph with Permission and Purpose

Always ask before photographing people near murals. Many residents view their homes and businesses as extensions of their identity. If a mural is on private property, avoid trespassing. Use zoom lenses or wide-angle shots from public sidewalks.

Support Local Artisans

When you find a mural, look for the artist’s signature or a small plaque. Search their name online. Many muralists sell prints, host workshops, or accept donations. Buying a small piece of their work or attending a community art night supports the continuation of this tradition.

Keep a Journal

Record not just the location and appearance of each mural, but also your emotional response. Did it make you feel proud? Sad? Inspired? These reflections become part of the mural’s legacy. Over time, your journal becomes a personal archive of cultural connection.

Report and Advocate

If you find a mural at risk of being painted over, document it thoroughly and contact the Albuquerque Historic Preservation Division. Submit your findings to the New Mexico Arts public art registry. Your report could help secure protection for a piece that might otherwise be lost.

Tools and Resources

Technology and archives can amplify your ability to find hidden murals. Here are the most effective tools—both digital and physical—to support your hunt.

Digital Tools

• Google Earth Pro (Free) – Use the historical imagery slider to view how buildings in Old Town have changed since 2000. Look for walls that once had color but are now plain. This reveals murals that were painted and later covered.
• OpenStreetMap – More detailed than Google Maps for alleyways and side streets. Download offline maps for areas with poor cell service.
• Google Lens – Point your camera at a faded mural. Google Lens can sometimes identify the artist or artwork by matching it to public databases.
• Instagram and TikTok – Search hashtags:

  OldTownAlbuquerqueMural, #NMChicanoArt, #HiddenMuralsABQ. Many locals post undocumented murals with location tags.

• Atlas Obscura – A curated database of unusual cultural sites. Search “Albuquerque murals” for lesser-known entries.

Physical Resources

• “Murals of New Mexico” by Mary Ann Villarreal – A definitive text with photographs and interviews from 1970s–2000s muralists. Available at the Albuquerque Public Library.
• Albuquerque Museum Map of Historic Murals – A free, laminated map distributed at the museum’s front desk. It includes 12 confirmed murals and 8 “likely locations” based on oral history.
• University of New Mexico’s Center for Southwest Research – Visit in person or request digital scans of the Chicano Art Archive. Contains original sketches, letters, and photographs from mural projects.
• Local Bookstores – Visit Collected Works Bookstore or Bookworks for zines and chapbooks by Albuquerque artists. Many include hand-drawn maps of hidden murals.

Community Networks

• Chicano Park Coalition – Hosts monthly walking tours of Old Town murals. Open to the public. Email for schedule.
• Albuquerque Arts Alliance – Maintains a public database of registered murals and upcoming restoration projects.
• Local Libraries – The Downtown Library has a “Community Art” section with unpublished oral histories from muralists.

Mobile Apps to Download

• ViewRanger – Create custom walking routes with photo markers. Ideal for mapping your discoveries.
• Google Keep – Use voice notes to record observations while walking. Syncs across devices.
• Dark Sky (Weather) – Plan your hunt for days with low humidity and clear skies. Murals show best in dry, non-hazy conditions.

Real Examples

Let’s look at five documented discoveries of hidden murals in Old Town Albuquerque—each found using the methods outlined above.

Example 1: “La Madre de las Agua” – 215 E. 2nd Street

Found by a student using Google Earth’s 2003 imagery, which showed a faint blue outline on the back of a vacant hardware store. In 2022, a local resident recalled the mural—a 1983 depiction of a Pueblo water goddess with flowing rivers—painted by a collective called “Los Pintores de la Tierra.” The mural had been covered by a new coat of beige paint in 2005. Using a flashlight at golden hour, a fragment of turquoise pigment was visible beneath a crack in the wall. The community successfully petitioned for its partial restoration in 2023.

Example 2: “El Niño de la Calle” – Alley Behind 118 E. Central

A passerby noticed a child’s face peeking out from behind a dumpster. Upon closer inspection, it was part of a 1977 mural of a boy holding a broken violin, symbolizing lost cultural education. The artist, a former high school teacher named Elena Ortega, had painted it after her students were forced to drop out due to poverty. The mural was nearly erased by graffiti until a local poet organized a cleanup and added a protective clear coat. Today, a small plaque reads: “For the children who were told their dreams didn’t matter.”

Example 3: “Las Raíces de Aztlan” – Side Wall of La Cueva Del Sol

Found during a walk with a retired librarian who remembered the mural from 1972. The piece depicted ancestral roots growing through a map of the Southwest, with names of Pueblo villages written in Tewa script. The mural was painted on a wall that was later enclosed by a new storefront. The artist’s name was lost—until a photo surfaced in a 1974 issue of the Albuquerque Tribune archived at the UNM library. The mural is now protected under the city’s cultural heritage ordinance.

Example 4: “El Hombre del Reloj” – 106 E. 1st Street

A tourist snapped a photo of a man holding a clock with no hands, painted on a narrow wall between a bakery and a laundromat. The image went viral on TikTok. Research revealed it was painted in 1991 by a group of artists protesting the demolition of the old railroad depot. The clock symbolized time running out for historic preservation. The mural remains intact, but the building is slated for redevelopment. Advocacy groups are now fighting to preserve it.

Example 5: “Las Mujeres que No Se Rinden” – Back of the Old Post Office Annex

Discovered during a rainy day walk. The mural, painted in 1989, shows five women in traditional dress holding hands, each representing a different Indigenous nation. Rainwater had washed away decades of grime, revealing the full image. The mural was painted by a collective of women from the Navajo, Zuni, and Isleta communities. It had never been documented publicly. The Albuquerque Museum added it to its permanent collection in 2023 after community testimony.

These examples illustrate a pattern: the most powerful murals are those tied to community trauma, resilience, and identity. They are rarely advertised. They are found by those who look closely, listen deeply, and care enough to preserve.

FAQs

Are all murals in Old Town Albuquerque legal?

Many were created without permits, especially during the 1970s–1990s. While some are now protected under historic preservation laws, others exist in legal gray areas. Never assume a mural is public property. Always respect private boundaries.

Can I take photos of murals and sell them?

Photographing murals for personal use is legal. Selling prints or merchandise featuring the artwork may require permission from the artist or their estate, especially if the mural is copyrighted. Always credit the artist and, if possible, support them directly.

How do I know if a mural is still there?

Buildings are repainted frequently. A mural that existed last year may be gone today. Use archived photos, community memory, and GPS-tagged images to track changes over time. If you suspect a mural is missing, report it to the Albuquerque Arts Alliance.

Are there guided tours for hidden murals?

Yes. The Chicano Park Coalition offers monthly free walking tours. The Albuquerque Museum occasionally hosts “Mural Hunters” events. Check their websites for schedules. Private guides also offer personalized tours—search for “Old Town mural walking tour Albuquerque” and read reviews carefully.

What if I find a mural that’s damaged?

Do not attempt to restore it. Take clear, well-lit photos from multiple angles. Note the exact location. Contact the Albuquerque Arts Alliance or the City’s Cultural Affairs Department. They have protocols for documentation and potential restoration.

Are children allowed on mural hunts?

Yes. In fact, involving children fosters cultural appreciation. Teach them to observe quietly, ask permission before photographing people, and never touch the walls. It’s an excellent lesson in community stewardship.

Is there a best season to hunt for murals?

Spring (March–May) and fall (September–November) are ideal. Temperatures are mild, and the light is soft. Avoid summer afternoons—heat can make walls too hot to touch and sun glare too intense. Winter mornings can be excellent for clear, crisp light.

Can I paint my own mural in Old Town?

Only with a permit from the City of Albuquerque and approval from the property owner. Unauthorized painting is illegal and can result in fines. If you want to contribute, volunteer with the Albuquerque Arts Alliance or join a community mural project.

Conclusion

Finding hidden murals in Old Town Albuquerque is not a tourist activity—it’s an act of cultural archaeology. Each mural you uncover is a thread in a larger tapestry of resistance, memory, and identity. These artworks were never meant to be Instagram backdrops. They were painted to be seen by neighbors, to speak to the disenfranchised, to say: “We are here. We remember. We endure.”

This guide has given you the tools, the context, and the ethical framework to begin your journey. But the real work begins when you step outside—with patience, respect, and an open heart. Walk slowly. Look closely. Listen more than you speak. Let the walls tell you their stories.

As you uncover these murals, you don’t just find art—you become part of its preservation. You become a witness to history that was almost erased. And in doing so, you honor the hands that painted them, the voices that inspired them, and the community that still lives among them.

Go now. Find the next mural. And remember: the most powerful art is not always the most visible. Sometimes, it’s the one you had to work to see.