The Texas Historical Commission announced that buildings repurposed by minimalist artist Donald Judd in Marfa, Texas, have been added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Approved by the National Park Service in May 2025, the designation expands the existing Fort D.A. Russell Historic District to include 15 buildings and a large-scale installation, all altered or created by Judd between 1973 and his death in 1994. The properties are managed by the Chinati Foundation and the Judd Foundation, which operate as separate entities. This is the second Judd-linked historic district in Marfa, following the Central Marfa Historic District’s designation in 2022.
This designation matters because it secures federal preservation protections for Judd’s transformative compound, which turned a defunct military base into a landmark of minimalist art and architecture. The site helped put Marfa on the global cultural map and exemplifies how artists can reshape rural landscapes. The listing also underscores the growing recognition of artist-founded institutions as historically significant, ensuring that Judd’s legacy and the foundations’ stewardship are preserved for future generations.