Poeh Center (Tewa: "pathway") is a cultural center in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Established by Pojoaque Pueblo, it is devoted to the arts and culture of the Puebloan peoples.[1] The center is located off of U.S. Route 84. It is near Pojoaque Pueblo's Cities of Gold Casino and Hotel,[2] and about 16 miles (26 km) north of Santa Fe. Construction started in 1992 with gaming revenue, and was completed in 2003.

Poeh Center with Tower Gallery, 2005

The Poeh Center is widely recognized for its traditional pueblo architecture and building techniques. Built of adobe bricks and local wood products, it also houses the Poeh Museum, the Poeh Arts educational program, the Poeh Tower Gallery, and administrative offices. The Poeh Tower, currently occupied by sculptor Roxanne Swentzell, is the tallest adobe structure in New Mexico.[3] The Poeh Center is the first tribally owned and maintained facility for cultural preservation of northern New Mexico and is compared to a Kiva-type building. It has traditional pueblo elements such as motifs in the interior, ceilings made of wooden beams, horno fireplaces and Pojoaque pottery.[4] Its architecture is a blend of the New Mexico type pueblo architecture resembling some of the religious structures of Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde.[5] The building occupies a space of 4,930 square feet (458 m2), and with plans for expansion to include a traditional pueblo plaza, and an amphitheater for performing arts and lectures related to Puebloan culture.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Projects Overview". Official website of Poeh Museum. Archived from the original on 6 May 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  2. ^ Martinez, Matthew J. (2008). Double Take: Tourism & Photography Endeavors Among the Northern Pueblos of the Rio Grande. ProQuest. pp. 212–. ISBN 978-0-549-94078-4. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  3. ^ "Poeh Center". eartharchitecture.org.
  4. ^ Gregory Caicco (2007). Architecture, Ethics, and the Personhood of Place. UPNE. pp. 197–. ISBN 978-1-58465-653-1. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  5. ^ Enrique Salmón (1 May 2012). Eating the Landscape: American Indian Stories of Food, Identity, and Resilience. University of Arizona Press. pp. 38–. ISBN 978-0-8165-3011-3. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  6. ^ "Facilities Overview". Official website of Poeh Museum. Archived from the original on 6 May 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
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35°52′57″N 106°00′43″W / 35.88238°N 106.01182°W / 35.88238; -106.01182