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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, has a rich and layered history that spans thousands of years, shaped by Indigenous peoples, Spanish colonization, Mexican rule, and its integration into the United States.
Pre-Colonial Period (Before 1600s)
Indigenous Presence: The area around Santa Fe was inhabited by Ancestral Puebloan peoples as early as 900 CE, with thriving communities like those at Bandelier and Pecos. By the 14th century, Tewa-speaking Pueblo peoples established villages along the Rio Grande, including the nearby Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan Pueblo).
Cultural Hub: These communities developed sophisticated agricultural systems, pottery, and trade networks, laying the foundation for the region’s cultural richness.
Spanish Colonial Period (1598–1821)
Founding of Santa Fe (1610): Santa Fe was established as the capital of the Spanish province of Nuevo México in 1610 by Governor Don Pedro de Peralta, making it the oldest capital city in the United States. The city was built on the site of an earlier Pueblo village, with the Palace of the Governors as its administrative center.
Spanish Mission System: The Spanish imposed Catholicism and encomienda (forced labor) on the Pueblo peoples, leading to tensions. Franciscan missionaries built churches, including the San Miguel Chapel (circa 1610), one of the oldest in the U.S.
Pueblo Revolt (1680): Resentment over Spanish oppression culminated in the Pueblo Revolt, led by Popé, a Tewa leader. The Pueblos drove the Spanish out of New Mexico, and Santa Fe was temporarily abandoned by the colonists.
Spanish Reconquest (1692–1696): Diego de Vargas led the Spanish reconquest, reestablishing control over Santa Fe by 1693. The Spanish adopted more conciliatory policies toward the Pueblos afterward. Mexican Period (1821–1846)
Mexican Independence: After Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, Santa Fe became part of the Mexican Republic. The city’s role as a trading hub grew with the opening of the Santa Fe Trail in 1821, connecting it to Missouri and fostering commerce with the United States.
Cultural Exchange: The trail brought Anglo-American traders, goods, and cultural influences, transforming Santa Fe’s economy and demographics.
American Period (1846–Present)
U.S. Conquest (1846): During the Mexican-American War, U.S. General Stephen W. Kearny captured Santa Fe without bloodshed in 1846, claiming New Mexico for the United States. The city became the territorial capital under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848).
Territorial Growth: Santa Fe grew as a political and cultural center, though it faced challenges like the Taos Revolt (1847), where Mexican and Pueblo resistors opposed U.S. rule. The arrival of the railroad in 1880 boosted the economy but shifted some commerce to other towns.
Statehood (1912): New Mexico became the 47th U.S. state, with Santa Fe retained as the capital despite debates favoring Albuquerque. The city’s unique Pueblo Revival architecture, promoted by figures like John Gaw Meem, began to define its aesthetic.
20th Century Cultural Boom: Santa Fe emerged as an arts and culture hub. The establishment of the School of American Research (1907), the Santa Fe Indian Market (1922), and the influx of artists like Georgia O’Keeffe in the 1920s solidified its reputation. The city’s historic district, including the Palace of the Governors, became a focal point for tourism.
Modern Era: Today, Santa Fe is known for its vibrant arts scene, multicultural heritage, and historic preservation. It hosts events like the Santa Fe Fiesta and remains a center for Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo traditions. Its population (around 88,000 in 2025) reflects this diversity, and its high altitude (7,199 feet) makes it the highest capital city in the U.S.
Key Historical Sites
Palace of the Governors (1610): A symbol of Santa Fe’s colonial past, now a museum.
San Miguel Chapel (1610): One of the oldest churches in the U.S.
Canyon Road*: Originally a Native American trail, now a famous art gallery district.
Loretto Chapel (1878): Known for its “miraculous” spiral staircase. Cultural Significance Santa Fe’s history reflects a blend of Native American, Spanish, Mexican, and Anglo influences, creating a unique cultural identity. Its preservation of adobe architecture, annual fiestas, and thriving art markets highlight its role as a living historical and cultural center.
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.
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