Sant Fe History
Santa Fe is the oldest capital in the United States and oldest European community founded West of the Mississippi River. Before American statehood, it was a Pueblo Indian dwelling, Spanish province, Mexican territory, trade route, and Confederate outpost.
From 1050 – 1607 contemporary Santa Fe was mainly a series of Pueblo villages called pueblos. Archaeologists confirm that Pueblos abandoned the site in the 1400′s for areas nearby Santa Fe. The Spanish arrived in the Santa Fe site in 1607 in an effort to colonize and conquer North America.
Don Pedro de Peralta, a conquistador, officially founded Santa Fe in 1607. He succeeded Don Juan Onante, the formative governer of Santa Fe. The Spanish sent soldiers, officials, and Franciscan missionaries to Pueblo Indians in the region. At the time, there were an estimated 100,000 Pueblos living in 70 towns around Santa Fe. The Spanish outfit attempted to convert the Pueblos to Catholicism. A band of Pueblos revolted against Spanish explorers and colonists. They pushed the Spanish back into Mexico and destroyed most of Santa Fe except the Palace of the Governers.
Don Diego De Vargas successfully resieged the city from the Pueblos in 1692. This placed New Mexico under Spanish rule once again. De Vargas led the expansion of Santa Fe and initiated trading agreements with the British, French, and Americans. Similarly, the Pueblos created a peaceful alliance with Comanche, Navajo, and Apache Indians.
In 1821, when Mexico finally gained independence from Spain, Santa Fe was named as the capital of the province of New Mexico. This ended the closed empire strategies of Spain; therefore, American explorers could enter the borders of New Mexico.
William Becknell led a group of trappers and miners down the Santa Fe trail from Arrow Rock, MS. In the Chimayó rebellion of 1837, New Mexican farmers killed the governer of Santa Fe and resisted Mexican rule. After Mexico defeated the farmers, Santa Fe plaza symbolized a peaceful founding with the planting of its cottonwood trees.
The Mexican-American War took place from 1846 to 1848 in New Mexico. Mexico eventually ceded New Mexico and California to the US.
The US recognized New Mexico’s statehood in 1912. The Museum of Fine Arts completed construction in 1917 and in 1926, the Old Santa Fe Association commenced.The association aimed to preserve the charm and cultural heritage of Santa Fe.
City ordinances prevent construction of high-rise buildings to keep the panoramic views. The same zoning restrictions only permit adobe or Spanish Colonial style architecture downtown.
Don’t miss this interestingpart of the US. There are several RCI timeshares and one Interval International timeshare located there. Remember, because there are so few units available to place your request more in advance.
