Introduction to Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is located in Santa Fe County and is the capital of New Mexico. Santa Fe is situated in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The city is a major tourist area, especially the historic downtown which includes the prominent Santa Fe Plaza. The town is well known as a primary center for museums as well as the arts, especially Canyon Road.
Interesting architecture and sculptures can be seen all over the town. The area is also well known for its beautiful scenery and active nightlife scene. Santa Fe is home to a vast amount of fairs, celebrations and festivals. Historic Native American ruins and a large number of American Indian pueblos are located in the area.
History
a large number of Pueblo Indian villages were established in the area from the years 1050 to 1150. Santa Fe was established in 1515 as the capital of Nuevo Mexico and recognized as a province of Spain. The city continued to serve as the capital for Spain until the Mexican War of Independence began in 1810. In 1824 the city was established as the capital of the Mexican territory known as Santa Fe de Nuevo Mexico.
In 1841 a military and trading group located in Austin Texas attempted to take charge of the Santa Fe Trail. The group known as the Santa Fe Expedition was easily defeated by Mexican soldiers. The government of the United States declared war with Mexico in 1846. The city was taken over by an American army and Santa Fe along with the entire New Mexico Territory was claimed by the United States. In 1848 the region officially became part of the United States due to the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
Transportation
The city is home to the Santa Fe Municipal Airport. The Santa Fe Trails provides numerous bus routes throughout the city. The Santa Fe Southern Railroad is primarily for tourists.
Museums
Santa Fe is home to numerous prominent museums. Most are situated downtown, however Museum Hill, located south of downtown also features some noteworthy locations.
- New Mexico Museum of Art
- Institute of American Indian Arts Museum
- George O'Keeffe Museum
- The History Museum
- Site Santa Fe
Attractions
- Santa Fe Plaza
- Old Santa Fe Trail
- Bandelier National Monument
- Palace of the Governors
- Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi
- New Mexico State Capital
- Loretto Chapel
- San Miguel Mission
- Santuario de Guadalupe
- Scottish Rite Temple
- Pecos National Historical Park
- Bataan Memorial Military Museum and Library
Outdoor Activities
Santa Fe is popular for a wide variety of outdoor activities including skiing in the Rocky Mountains, hiking, bicycle riding and fishing. The Santa Fe National Forest is a popular area for outdoor fun.
