Villa Philmonte facts for kids
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Villa Philmonte Historic District
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The façade of the Villa Philmonte
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 Location in New Mexico
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| Nearest city | Cimarron, New Mexico |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1926 |
| Architect | Edward Buehler Delk |
| Architectural style | Mission / Spanish Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 95001018 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 18, 1995 |
The Villa Philmonte is a large ranch house. It is located near Cimarron, New Mexico. This home is part of the Philmont Scout Ranch, which belongs to the Boy Scouts of America.
In 1995, the Villa Philmonte was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was listed as part of the Villa Philmonte Historic District. This district includes the main house, a guesthouse, two courtyards, a pool, a pergola, and a pond.
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Building the Villa Philmonte
The Villa Philmonte was built in 1926. A rich oil businessman named Waite Phillips had it built. He used it to manage his huge cattle ranch in New Mexico. The ranch was about 300,000 acres!
Villa's Design and Name
Many people think the Villa looks like a traditional adobe building. This is because of its location in the American Southwest. However, the house was actually designed to look like a Mediterranean style home. Over the years, layers of plaster have been added. This makes it look more like adobe.
Waite Phillips gave the house its name. He combined the first part of his last name, "Phil," with the Spanish word for mountain, "monte." So, "Philmonte" means "Phillips' Mountain."
Other Buildings and Donations
Besides the Villa, Phillips built other special places on his ranch. These included Fish Camp and Hunting Lodge. Today, these are part of the Philmont Scout Ranch camps.
In 1941, Phillips gave the Villa to the Boy Scouts. He also donated 91,538 acres of land. This was in addition to a gift he made in 1938. That earlier gift of 35,857 acres helped create the Philmont Rocky Mountain Scout camp. The Boy Scouts of America have managed the property ever since. Today, the Villa is a museum. Scouts and other visitors can take tours during the summer.
Inside the Villa Philmonte
The Villa Philmonte is filled with beautiful items. Many of Phillips' original furniture and collections are still there. You can see old antiques and weapons on display.
Special Features Inside
The house has a large courtyard with a fountain. It also features big columns and many covered walkways. Inside, the rooms are decorated with a mix of European, American, and Southwestern styles. There is a grand piano in the entrance. It is worth a lot of money!
Waite Phillips had a small window added to the second floor. He wanted to see a large rock formation from his house. This rock was later named Window Rock.
On the stairs, there is a display window. It shows a desert scene with saguaro cacti and a wagon. But it's a bit of a trick! Saguaro cacti do not grow in New Mexico. Also, wagons on the Santa Fe Trail were pulled by oxen, not horses.
See also
