Marfa, population 2,424, is said to have been named by a railroad engineer's wife after a character in The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky. "Marfa" means "Martha" in Russian. Founded as a water stop on the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio (Southern Pacific) railroad, Marfa lies on a semi-protected highland plain of the Chihuahuan Desert between three mountain ranges at an altitude of 5,000 feet.

Events that led to the cultural and economic growth that Marfa now enjoys started with artist Donald Judd's investment in art and people back in the 1970's. With the purchase of much of Fort D.A. Russell, Judd began the work on his permanent sculptural installations. A noticeable amount of revitalization came from his activities and continued up until his death in 1994. The Chinati Foundation was established as guardian of his artworks and the museum. The foundation continues his vision and attracts thousand of visitors each year to Marfa.

Today, Marfa enjoys an international reputation in the art world and still remains a simple and modest place to live.

Learn more about the sites and sounds of Marfa by watching this video.