This page is under construction! Please check back later for the completion!

Santa Fe

Reference
Established: 900 a.d.
Original: Ogha P’o’oge
Elevation: 7,199
Waterway: Rio Grande
Highway: Hwy 84 via I25

Santa Fe, New Mexico, is a city with a fascinating and diverse history, dating back to the early 1600s. This incredible city is steeped in the rich traditions of its indigenous roots and has been shaped by the influence of Spanish colonization. The tapestry of Santa Fe’s past is woven with threads of diverse cultures, with each era leaving its unique mark on the city.

From the Pueblo people who initially inhabited the area to the Spanish settlers who arrived in the 1600s, Santa Fe has seen a range of cultures come and go over the centuries. Its position as the capital of the state of New Mexico has also played a significant role in shaping its history, with notable events such as the Mexican-American War and the Civil War leaving their mark on the city.

Today, Santa Fe is a vibrant and thriving city, with its rich history and diverse cultural heritage showcased throughout its streets and buildings. From the stunning adobe architecture to the beautiful art galleries and museums, Santa Fe offers a unique blend of old-world charm and contemporary vibrancy.

Whether you’re exploring the ancient ruins of the Pueblo people, visiting traditional Spanish-style churches, or taking in the incredible food, art, and culture of the city, Santa Fe is a truly unforgettable destination. Its rich history and diverse cultural heritage continue to make it one of the most fascinating cities in the United States, and a must-see destination for anyone interested in exploring the many threads that make up the tapestry of American history.

Around 900 AD, the Tewa tribe settled in what is now downtown Santa Fe, building homes around a square plaza. The houses extended approximately a quarter to half a mile southwest of the plaza and named the new settlement, Ogha P’o’oge. The Tewa and Pueblo people also established settlements along the Rio Grande, which flowed continuously from the time of their arrival until roughly 1700. The river provided a source of water for washing, drinking, and transportation, as well as a guide. Today, the Rio Grande flows seasonally and its depth and flow are continuously monitored due to fluctuations caused by weather patterns. As the second-longest river in the United States, it remains an important landmark in the area.

In the year 1598, Don Juan de Onate led a Spanish Expedition into the area with the goal of colonizing Northern Mexico. He re-established the area as Santa Fe de Nueva, México and placed the base of operations or the capital about 25 miles to the north as San Juan de los Caballeros, where modern-day Ohkay Owingeh is now located. Unfortunately, Don Juan de Onate was eventually banned from the Spanish settlement by his own people for cruelty to the native tribes.
MORE COMING SOON! PLEASE CHECK BACK LATER

The historic jail that once held notorious outlaws including Billy the Kid, Dave Rudabaugh, and Billy Wilson, stood right here at Water street in Santa Fe. Today, The Collected Works Bookstore and Coffeehouse stands proud in its place, a testament to the city's rich history.
To recount the stay of Billy the Kid and his gang in the jail, the following text is from an interview with the boys conducted by a Las Vegas Morning Gazette reporter on January 20, 1881.
“A few days ago, a representative of the Gazette paid a visit to Billy Bonney, “the Kid,” Dave Rudabaugh, and Billy Wilson in the Santa Fe jail. They were all heavily shackled and lying about but rose as the heavy iron door swung back on its hinges. After speaking with them, the Gazette man made some remarks on the tidiness of their cell.
“Oh, this is a palace as compared with that place they’ve put fellows in in Vegas,” said Billy. “We’ve been scrubbing up today.”
He continued, glancing around and contemplating their work. The men appeared to be in good humor, and the talk passing from one topic to another, “the Kid” said,
“I’m getting up a terrible reputation.”
Allusion being made to the horrible picture of him in the police news that has been the laughing stock of the town, Billy made all manner of fun of it.
“I got hold of the paper first when it was brought in,” he said, “but I was ashamed to let the other fellows see it. Wasn’t it savage, though?” he inquired.
We gave our unbiased opinion that we thought it was, and we were not a little amused at the way the subject of the front piece of the super sensational paper ran on about it.
“I never had a beautiful Mexican girl with me. It was as much as I could do to take care of myself,” was his disposition of the picture. “But,” his eyes flashing as he spoke, “she was ‘game’ though. See the way she stood off all the crowd after me,” said the admirer of personal courage.
“I say boss,” sang out a fellow lying near the stove,
“Haven’t you got any influence with the US government to get it to give me a hat?”
The fellow swung over his head a paper cap, such as dull scholars in backwoods towns “down east” wear as a symbol of dullness.
“Have you any other hat?”
“No, nor I haven’t had any for sixteen months ever since I was put in here.”
“He’s had hard luck that fellow has,” said one of the boys. “He’s been in here for 16 months waiting for trial for something that his nibs did,” pointing to Dave Rudabaugh who was lying near the fellow with the paper cap.
“Yes, they’ve kept him in for what I did,” attested Rudabaugh.
We were considerably interested in knowing who this long-time incarcerated man might be, and found on inquiry that it was B.S. Jack, well known in Vegas and who was accused of robbing the coach near this city.
“None of them men they’ve got in jail had anything to do with robbing the stage or the train,” said Rudabaugh. “I’m in it for now and might as well tell the truth, the Stokes boys are perfectly innocent and so are all the men who were mistrusted of being mixed up in both affairs. I don’t propose to tell who did do either. But they haven’t got any of the men but me.”
There was a general conversation concerning the Stokes boys, and all of the boys said it was a shame that they were ever arrested. “B.S.” Jack told his story. He said that he was broke and was just tied up with rheumatism.
“I couldn’t have walked as far as where the coach was robbed and back to my room again,” he said. “That’s the way with some of us. Poor devils who haven’t any friend,” said he, “They just pounced down on us because they think no one would believe a word we would say.”
He was in good humor like the rest, But he has had nearly a year and a half to brood over his misfortune and was at times somewhat sour.
“They have got another innocent man in gel in Vegas,” said Rudabaugh. When asked what that might be, he said, “Webb”; He isn’t any more guilty of killing Kelliher than you are.”
The “imported editor” came to the conclusion that if his residence in Vegas in March was made a test of Webb’s innocence, that man was safe.
“I saw the whole affair, and if my word is worth anything, I say that man didn’t do the killing.” He stoutly adhered to this and said that if he only had a chance to testify, he would say so.
“Well, Billy, what do you think of your notoriety?” we asked of “the Kid.”
“I don’t see any money in it. Everything that has been done in that country is laid to me,” and he really seemed ashamed of the reputation he had gained.
“If you get out, you could get up a show like Buffalo Bills. You have had advertising enough.” “IF —-“ Was his only comment.
The boys expressed themselves as having nothing to complain about regarding their keeping and keepers and said that Sheriff Martinez and everyone connected with the jail has treated them right. As the Gazette man turned to go, “B.S.” impressed on his mind his need for a hat and coat, and the doors clanged on the prisoners
Scroll to Top
Verified by MonsterInsights