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The Randall Davey Audubon Center sits on the past, present, and future homelands of Tewa speaking Pueblos. This land has held relationship with many tribes and had many names, including the Tewa name of Santa Fe: O’gah P’ogeh Owingeh, White Shell Water Place.
The historic portion of the Randall Davey Audubon Center & Sanctuary (Randall Davey house and art studio) is on the National Register of Historic Places and the history of this site is long and distinguished. In 1050 AD, Santa Fe was first settled by Pueblo Indians, then, in 1540, Coronado claimed the “Kingdom of New Mexico” for Spain. After almost 200 years of conquests and revolts, Spain awarded Manuel Trujillo the Talaya Grant, which included the area that is now the Center.
In 1847, the US Army began construction of a sawmill to cut timbers for Ft. Marcy. This sawmill was later converted to a gristmill in 1852 and, after a few more land transfers, Randall Davey bought the property in 1920 from the Martinez family, converting the mill into his home and studio.
Randall Davey
A vanguard of modern art, Randall Davey was an important part of the Santa Fe Art Colony, and was a skilled painter, printmaker and sculptor. Davey successfully practiced his art here in his studio until his death in 1964. Davey’s works, along with antique furnishings and personal memorabilia are exhibited in house, art studio and administrative offices.
Guided tours of the house and studio are offered on Friday afternoons from 2:00-3:30pm. Please book tickets in advance, as space is limited.
I was born with ego, but I am losing it gradually. From a guy who was an optimist, I am becoming cynical. Living out here in New Mexico, I can see the political manipulations in the art world back East, and I know that if I chose to, I could have more success with my work if I wanted to play their game. If I lived in a big city, I could clean-up on portraits. But I prefer to live here and paint for myself, and get along with teaching, now and then a portrait commission, and what little comes in from raising chickens. I am almost willing to get along on the chickens. I would rather take two days off a week and make an honest living. That way I can feel free.
- Randall Davey, from an interview in the Santa Fe New Mexican on the Society-Clubs page, Monday July 17, 1944
Acequia del Llano
Acequias (ah-SAY-key-ah) are historic irrigation ditches, stewarded by the community. Parciantes, or landowners with water rights, live along and receive allocations of water throughout the running season. They are responsible for working together and with the Mayordomo, the elected leader of the acequia, to keep their section of the ditch clear and maintained. Acequias are a unique and ancient form of water management, with practices rooted in both native and Spanish colonial history. Every spring, parciantes and community members come together to a limpia, a community cleaning of the acequia that prepares it for the spring flow. There are over 700 acequias found across Northern New Mexico, maintaining a historic and essential natural resource management practice.
Audubon is honored to help steward this unique and critical resource. Water is one of the most important resources for birds and people. On a larger scale, Audubon works with tribal partners and government agencies to maintain river flows in the Rio Grande. Both birds and New Mexicans rely on water to drink, grow food, and provide livable habitat.
Learn More about Audubon's Water Conservation Work on the Rio Grande
Present Day
The land was gifted to the National Audubon Society by the heirs of Randall Davey in 1983. Today, it is owned and operated by Audubon Southwest – and is Audubon’s leading education facility and wildlife sanctuary in New Mexico.
In 2019 and 2021, Audubon opened the David J. Henderson Pavilion and Nature Discovery Area. This new chapter of the property allows for expanded opportunities to learn and visit, including more field trips, summer camp programs, weddings and private events, as well as daily visitation.
A group of local poets created the Haiku Trail in 2022, featuring a series of poems installed across the property. Each poem hangs in the place where it was written, embodying the visuals and emotions of the moment of its creation. Notable authors include Arthur Sze, 25th US Poet Laureate, and Levi Romero, New Mexico's first Poet Laureate.
Learn More about the Haiku Trail
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