Images from the Luther Bean Museum

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Luther Bean Museum has pottery and weavings of the southwest, antiques and many other collectibles. Richardson Hall (built 1924-39), which houses the Luther Bean Museum, was the first building on the campus of Adams State College. Display cases throughout the museum feature collections such as our vintage hats, Native American pottery, mule saddle, horse hair ropes and other farming tools.
Navajo weaving, c. 1850 The museum features a wonderful collection of Native American and Hispanic weavings including a weaving by Eppie Archuleta (on display in the museum’s loft). The space that is now the Luther Bean Museum was the college’s first library from 1930 – 1954. The space was later used as a theatre-in-the-round during the late 60’s through the early 70’s.
Adams State College, founded in 1921 by the Colorado General Assembly, opened June 15, 1925. The name Adams State honors long-time San Luis Valley resident, William "Billy" Adams, former state senator and three-term governor of Colorado. The Luther Bean Museum features the only known display of Billy Adams paraphernalia including his governor’s chair, family photos of his life in Alamosa, a collection of books from his private library and his desk.
Museum fireplace with original ceramic tiles and wood trim. The quiet ambience and historic interior of the Bean Museum, once the college's library, is worth studying in its own right with its cathedral ceilings and elegant woodwork. In 1975 the space was dedicated as a museum in the memory of Dr. Luther Bean. 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 accolades.
Ceiling architecture features ash wood beams and original wrought iron chandeliers with stenciled shades. This is a view from the loft area overlooking the museum’s main front room.

“Naming of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains” by J. Noel Tucker This stunning mural, stretching 49ft long and 12ft high over the entranceway to the museum tells the story of the naming of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Southwest art enthusiasts will marvel at the pottery by Maria "Marie" Martinez, Navajo and Rio Grande weavings by artists such as San Luis Valley native Eppie Archuleta, and the santos and retablos on display in this intimate museum. Acoma and Santo Domingo Pueblo pottery is also very well represented. 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 friends of the college, Mr. Charles and Mrs. Beryl Woodard donated antique furniture, porcelain figurines, Havelin china, and ivory and sandstone figurines collected from around the world.