Learn More about Santa Fe

Santa Fe is the oldest capital city in North America and the oldest European community west of the Mississippi. Santa Fe is nestled at 7,000 feet in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, where the Pueblo, Spanish, and Anglo cultures interweave the old with the new creating a rich, often mystifying “Land of Enchantment”. With a thriving arts scene, renowned cuisine, and rich cultural heritage, the UNESCO designated  creative city is a vibrant hub from which you can explore the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape.

History

The area of Santa Fe was originally occupied by indigenous tribes, who lived in pueblo villages, as early as 900 CE. While Santa Fe was inhabited on a very small scale in 1607, it was truly settled by the conquistador Don Pedro de Peralta in 1609-1610. The next several hundred years were marked by territorial disputes, from the 1680 Pueblo Revolt that drove the Spanish out of New Mexico, to the 1692 “Bloodless Reconquest” by Spain. By 1810 Santa Fe had become Spain’s provincial seat. In 1848 the United States claimed the New Mexican territories, granting New Mexico statehood in 1912 and designating Santa Fe as its capital.

Steeped in Spanish and Native American history, Santa Fe is the site of both the oldest public building in America, the Palace of the Governors, and the nation’s oldest community celebration, the Santa Fe Fiesta, established in 1712 to commemorate the Spanish reconquest of New Mexico in the summer of 1692.

Santa Fe Today

Santa Fe offers a wide variety of activities and events for locals and visitors alike. Attend a Pueblo dance, shop the celebrated Indian Market, raft the waters of the Rio Grande, or visit historic sites like Bandelier National Monument. Ski and hike some of the most beautiful mountains on the continent, then play golf on courses with some of the most dramatic views in the country.

Because Santa Fe is one of the country’s hottest art markets, the city is fertile ground for all kinds of work. The city has welcomed generations of visionary artists, from Georgia O’Keefe to Meow Wolf.  Hundreds of galleries host openings and exhibits year-round and studio tours take place throughout the year. Museums regularly exhibit new shows of work done in the Southwest as well as traveling shows from around the world.

No description of Santa Fe would be complete without mentioning the regional food—a unique blend of Indigenous American, Spanish, and Anglo influences. You can sample these culinary delights at one of the more than 400 restaurants in town, buy local ingredients from the Farmers Market, or even try your hand at the Santa Fe Cooking School.