Luther Bean Museum
Local and regional history, art, and artifacts
Adams State University
Luther Bean Museum
Richardson Hall #2-600
208 Edgemont Blvd
Alamosa, CO 81101
Contact:
719-587-7151
Email
lutherbean@adams.edu
Hours/Admission:
Summer: Monday - Friday 1:30 - 4:30 PM
Fall-Spring: Monday - Friday 1 - 5 PM
Closed weekends and major holidays
Admission free - donations welcome
Website - www.adams.edu/lutherbean
An eclectic collection of Southwest and European art, artifacts, and local arts and history unfolds to the visitor at Adam State University's Luther Bean Museum. Tucked away on campus, on the second floor of historic Richardson Hall, the museum features a stunning collection of Native American and Hispano Southwest arts, paintings and bronzes by nationally and regionally known artists, and European decorative arts.
Adams State University, was established in 1921 by the Colorado General Assembly, opened June 15, 1925, and named for long-time San Luis Valley resident, William "Billy" Adams, former state senator and three-term governor of Colorado.
Richardson Hall (built in 3 stages between 1924-39), which houses the Luther Bean Museum, was the first building on the Adams State campus. The museum was the institution’s first library from 1930–1954. The space was later used as a theatre-in-the-round during the late 60s through the early 70s. In 1976 the space was dedicated as a museum in the memory of Dr. Luther Bean. Come explore our diverse collections centered on San Luis Valley history, art, and culture!
Dr. Bean was one of the college’s first faculty (1925 – 1952), director for the Education Department, director of the San Luis Arts and Crafts School, founder of the college's first club – the Outing Club, among other accomplishments.
Collections feature Pueblo pottery, including a black ware pot by Maria "Maria" Martinez, regional weavings by artists such as San Luis Valley native Eppie Archuleta, and 19th-century santos and retablos from northern New Mexico and south-central Colorado.
The Luther Bean Museum includes memorabilia of the former Colorado Governor and ASU’s founder William H. "Billy" Adams including his governor’s chair, family photos of his life in Alamosa, a collection of books from his private library, and his desk.
In addition to works by renown artists Woody Crumbo, Bill Moyers, and Allan Houser, a collection of paintings by Stephen Quiller rounds out the museum's holdings in American art.
Long-time supporters of Adams State, Mr. Charles and Mrs. Beryl Woodard donated their collections of Pueblo pottery, retablos, and, through their estate, antique furniture and decorative arts collected from around the world.
