In the middle of the Sonoran Desert, hours from Phoenix and Tucson, sits Ajo. Dating back to the 19th century, and with a population of only 3700, its art scene is surprisingly vibrant, with murals all over this mining town. As the nearest town to Organ Pipe National Monument, and also as a pit-stop for Phoenicians driving down to the Sea of Cortez just south of the nearby Mexican border, Ajo might seem like an unlikely haven for artists and street-art. The town’s central square was built to resemble a colonial Spanish plaza--one of the best examples of 20th-century town planning in Arizona. Yes, it can be unbelievably hot in the summer, but during the cooler half of the year, you won’t regret lingering in its quaint streetscape.
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Ajo's vibrant street art project
In the middle of the Sonoran Desert, hours from Phoenix and Tucson, sits Ajo. Dating back to the 19th century, and with a population of only 3700, its art scene is surprisingly vibrant, with murals all over this mining town. As the nearest town to Organ Pipe National Monument, and also as a pit-stop for Phoenicians driving down to the Sea of Cortez just south of the nearby Mexican border, Ajo might seem like an unlikely haven for artists and street-art. The town’s central square was built to resemble a colonial Spanish plaza--one of the best examples of 20th-century town planning in Arizona. Yes, it can be unbelievably hot in the summer, but during the cooler half of the year, you won’t regret lingering in its quaint streetscape.
