About SWS

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

History of the Southwest

The American Southwest has seen many cultures throughout history and truly has one of the most diverse creative spaces in the United States.

Inhabitance of the southwest dates back to around 9,000 B.C. Indigenous people have been hunting and living off the land for centuries, and in the early 1500's, Spanish explorers started to set foot in the American Southwest.

The Spanish brought many changes to the land, and settled many of it as their own. Some of the trades the Spanish introduced to the American Southwest include the mining of precious metals including silver, gold and copper.

The American Southwest ultimately became a place of melted cultures. The Indigenous people and the Spanish learned from each other's cultures and created some of the most unique works of art including jewelry, pottery, clothing, food and much more. Today, you can see this beautiful blend of culture in the artwork in some of the most illustrious and obscure areas of the Southwest.

 

(Sources: NPS, Legends of the Southwest, interexchange)