The City of Alpine, 26 miles east of Marfa, offers a stretch of shops, galleries and other cultural attractions to explore. Most of the downtown area and Sul Ross State University campus were designated a Cultural District by the Texas Commission of the Arts in 2011 due to its its vibrant art scene and longstanding annual events that celebrate the region’s ranching culture through the creative arts, such as The Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Trappings of Texas and Artwalk Alpine.
The 57 murals that won Texas Travel Awards for Best Public Art in 2021 and 2025 provide a visually appealing experience during a stroll around town. The first murals date back to the 1940s with a “View of Alpine” inside the former post office, which is now the Brewster County Tax Appraisal Office, and a historic map of the Big Bend region inside the Museum of the Big Bend.
It was after the debut of “Big Brewster,” a popular mural with its “Greetings from Alpine” postcard and local historical facts and predominant figures, that instigated more of the murals around town. In 2013 and 2014, Alpine’s Gallery Night, Inc. celebrated its 20th and 21st anniversaries of its ArtWalk with murals representing Mexican-style calendars and painted by muralist Stylle Read. These inspired the creation of Alpine Alley Art with public art covering walls (with permission), dumpsters and utility poles in the alley that runs east to west between Holland Avenue and Avenue E.
Some of the local artists that participated in the outdoor gallery also have their work featured in the nearby galleries or have galleries of their own. Nancy Whitlock’s gallery, Whitlock Studio of Fine Art, is filled with her pastel paintings inspired by the Chihuahuan Desert landscape, flora and fauna. Around the corner on Holland Avenue is Big Bend Gallery, a co-op gallery operated by its 35 artists members. The gallery opened its doors last September less than four months after a fire destroyed their former space, Gallery on the Square, and four other businesses. The eclectic mix of artwork, from ceramics to jewelry to mixed media, adorns every inch of space, showcasing the creative minds that call this place home. Across the railroad tracks in the historic Murphy Street District is Curry Studio & Gallery, which showcases Tom Curry’s prolific career inside a building constructed from “papercrete” (recycled paper).
5th Street Gallery is one of the newest galleries in Alpine, featuring artists and small businesses that are mostly from the state. Rachael Waller, owner and fellow photographer, felt motivated to open the gallery inside the former Masonic Lodge after last year’s fire on Holland Avenue. Built in 1912, the building on the corner of Holland Avenue and Avenue E has had many lives as the former office for the Alpine Avalanche newspaper, a candy store and a tire shop.
Before she opened last November, Waller renovated parts of the building, preserving the details that celebrate its history. She saved the original floors but repainted the facade and uncovered the ironworker’s names that were originally concealed at the bottom of the trim. She added dark-sky compliant lighting around the building and added minimal lighting inside to not distract from the original ceiling tiles.
Waller curates and handpicks all the items in the gallery and works directly with the artisans. In addition to the paintings and photographs, there are smaller items such as soy candles and house decor, that offer something for everyone. There’s ranching gear and jewelry made from heated iron by working blacksmith Todd Elrod, oil paintings by Carol H. Fairlie and Chris Ruggia’s wildlife artwork, including his original bear paintings that were featured in the recent Big Bend Black Bears Weekend. 5th Street Gallery also highlights an artist from the gallery each month with a reception and special exhibition.
For more information about Alpine’s attractions, please visit visitalpinetx.com.