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 iWrtij 5th, 1903. 
 

^Urtces 0f interest 
 
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 play 5th, 1908, 
 

 JAN 25 1904 
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The Villa Real de Santa Fe de San Francisco 
 de Assisie to give its full Spanish name, is the 
 historic city of Santa Fe, seat of the government 
 of the territory of New Mexico as well as the coun- 
 ty seat and the see of an archbishop of the Roman 
 Catholic church, enjoys the distinction of being 
 the oldest town and the oldest capital of the 
 American continant. Its permanent settlement by 
 Europeans antedates the founding of Jamestown 
 and also the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers at Ply- 
 mouth more than 20 years. The thrilling and ro- 
 mantic incidents composing its story, the protract- 
 ed and bloody struggles with hordes of savage 
 Indians, the capture and pillage by hostile Pue- 
 blos in 1680, the general massacre of missionaries 
 and explorers and flight of the governor and a few 
 followers in the night to El Paso, the reserving of 
 some of the handsomest Spanish maidens for 
 wives of favored warriors, the desecration and 
 destruction of the Christij^n churches and the re- 
 storation of the worship of snakes and stone 
 idols, the reconquest by Diego de Vargas 12 years 
 later, the terrible punishment visited upon the re- 
 bellious Pueblos, the change from Spanish rule to 
 the rule of the triumphant republic of Mexico, the 
 capture by the United States forces under General 
 Kearney and the building of old Fort Marcy in 
 1846, the stirring scenes accompanying the distri- 
 bution of the immense traffic of the Santa Fe trail, 
 the wild deeds of desperadoes and the fabulous 
 hazards at cards in the days before the advent of 
 the railroad, afford the material for an epic poem 
 of deep interest. 
 
 To enumerate all the places of interest here 
 would require too much space for the purpose of 
 
 3 
 
this brief sketch, but a few of the most important 
 are: 
 
 The territorial library, containing- many an- 
 cient Spanish and Mexican documents from 1605 
 to 1846. 
 
 San Miguel church, built in 1540, partially des- 
 troyed in the revolution of 1680, reoccupied in 
 1692, and completely restored in 1710, and partly 
 rebuilt a few years ago. This is the oldest church 
 in the United States and contains many relics of 
 the early days. 
 
 Thecapitol, the penitentiary, the United States 
 Indiaa school, St. Katherine Indian school, the 
 National cemetery, the Roman Catholic institu- 
 tions, including a hospital, sanitarium, convent, 
 Loretto chapel, academy, and St. Michael's col- 
 lege, the federal building, the deaf and dumb asy- 
 lum, the Presbyterian mission school, the mili- 
 tary reservation and the court house: the old 
 house believed to antedate the Spanish occupation; 
 the cathedral of San Francisco, behind which is 
 the chapel of the old parish church, with carved 
 and painted reredos, both curious and interesting, 
 erected by Governor Del Valle and his wife in 
 1761; the cathedral museum, containing many 
 Spanish paintings and other objects of interest; 
 old Fort Marcy, the commanding situation famous 
 in all the sieges of the city, with ruins of the old 
 fort built by General Kearney in 1846: the garita, 
 on the road to old Fort Marcy, at the west wall of 
 which the leaders of the rebellion of 1837 were ex- 
 ecuted; the plaza in the center of the town, around 
 which cluster many memories of the conquest of 
 the land by the hardy Spaniards and of the stir- 
 ring scenes of the more recent davs. The soldier's 
 
monument is located in the center of this park 
 and also a monument commemorating- the taking- 
 possession of the city by General Kearney as well 
 as a memorial fountain to the late Archbishop 
 John B. Laaay; the Perez monument marking the 
 spot where Governor Perez was assassinated; the 
 Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, with its large 
 and interesting altar piece on canvass, containing 
 
 Governor's Palace, 
 six pictures of the appearance of the Virgin to 
 Juan Dieg-o, and other paintings and wood carv- 
 ings; monument of Kit Carson in front of the Fe- 
 deral building; the Rosario chapel, erected on the 
 spot where De Vargas made his vow before the 
 surrender of the city in 1692; the Masonic hall con- 
 taining- relics and the home of the oldest Masonic 
 lodg-e in the United States west of the Missouri: 
 the Governor's Palace, without doubt, the most 
 interesting- of all the buildings. This is an adobe 
 structure built in 1598 and continuously occupied 
 by the Spanish, Mexican and American governors 
 
for three hundred years. The men who lived and 
 conducted the affairs of state in the old pile in- 
 cluded some of the foremost names, not only of 
 the territory, but of the land. 
 
 To quote from the words of Ex-Governor L. B. 
 Prince, author of a history of New Mexico pub- 
 lished some ten years ag^o. 
 
 "Without disparaging the importance of any of 
 the cherished historical localities of the east, it 
 may be truthfully said that this ancient palace 
 surpasses in historical interest and value any 
 other place or object in the United States. It ante- 
 dates the settlement of Jamestown by nine years, 
 and that of Plymouth by 22, and has stood during 
 the 299 years since its erection, not as a cold rock 
 or monument, with no claim upon the interest of 
 humanity except the bare fact of its continued ex- 
 istence, but as the living center of everything of 
 historic importance in the southwest. Through all 
 that long period, whether under Spanish, Pueblo, 
 Mexican or American control, it has been the seat 
 of power and authority, whether the ruler was 
 called viceroy, captain-general, political chief, 
 department commander or governor, and whether 
 he presided over a kingdom, a province, a depart- 
 ment, or a territory, that has been his official resi- 
 dence. 
 
 "From here Onate started in 1599 on his adven- 
 turous expedition to the eastern plains; here, seven 
 years later, eight hundred Indians came from far 
 off Quivirato to ask aid in their war with the Ax- 
 taos; from here, in 1618, Vicente de Salivar set 
 forth to the Moqui country, only to be turned back 
 by rumors of the giants to be encountered; and 
 from here Penalosa and his brilliant troop started 
 
on the 6th of March, 1662, on their marvelous ex- 
 pedition to the Missouri; in one of the strong- 
 rooms the commissary general of the inquisition 
 was imprisoned a few years later by the same Pe- 
 nalosa; within its walls, fortified as if for a siege 
 the bravest of the Spaniards were massed in the 
 revolution of 1680; here, on the 19th of August of 
 that year was given the order to execute 48 Pueblo 
 prisoners in the plaza which faces the building; 
 here, but a day later, was the sad war council held 
 which determined [on the evacuation of the city; 
 here was the scene of the triumph of the Pueblo 
 chieftains as they ordered the destruction of the 
 Spanish archives and the church ornaments in one 
 grand conflagration; here, De Vargas, on Septem- 
 ber 14, 1692, after the eleven hour combat of the 
 preceding day, gave thanks to the Virgin Mary^ 
 to whose aid he attributed his triumphant capture 
 of the city; here, more than a century later, on 
 March 3, 1807, Lieut. Pike w^as brought before 
 Gov. Allencaster as an invader of Spanish soil 
 here in 1822, the Mexican standard, with its eagle 
 and cactus, was raised in token that New Mexico 
 was no longer a dependency of Spain: from here 
 on the 6th day of August, 1837, Gov. Perez started 
 to subdue the insurrection in the north, only to re- 
 turn two days later and to meet his death on the 
 9th, near Agua Fria; here, on the succeeding day, 
 Jose Gonzales, a Pueblo Indian of Taos, was in- 
 stalled as governor of New Mexico, soon after to 
 be executed by order of Armijo: here, in the prin- 
 cipal reception room, on Aug-ust 12, 1846, Capt. 
 Cooke, the American envoy, was received by Gov. 
 Armijo and sent back with a message of detiance: 
 and here, six days later. Gen. Kearney took formal 
 
possession of the city and slept, after his long-, 
 weary march, on the carpeted earthen floor of the 
 palace." 
 
 Coming- down to more modern times, it may be 
 added that Gen. Lew Wallace wrote the greater 
 part of Ben Hur in the old palace, while governor 
 of the territory in 1879 and ISSO. 
 
 CHURCH OF SAN MIGUEL. 
 
 This church, so noted for its antiquity, is situ- 
 ated in the oldest part of the city, called by the 
 Spaniards ''Analco," adjoining- the Brothers 
 CoUeg-e. It is about 74 feet in length, by 30 in 
 width, and 35 feet high. The walls are massively 
 built of adobe, and the roof, like those of all the 
 old churches, was constructed of strong vigas, sup- 
 ported by carved timbers at each end, the whole 
 being covered originally with straight branches of 
 poplar or willow, surmounted by a layer of earth. 
 In modern days, boards take the place of the 
 branches. 
 
This church dates from the earliest occupation, 
 and has long- been held in special veneration. 
 
 In the Pueblo revolution of 1680 it was to a 
 great extent destroyed, though the walls remained 
 standing. History records that in December, 1693 
 almost immediately after the reconquest by De 
 Vargas a number of men were sent to the moun- 
 tains to cut timber for the repair of the church. 
 Such tim.ber could only have been for vigas, which 
 shows the walls were yet in a condition to be 
 roofed. 
 
 The entire rebuilding was completed in 1710 as 
 appears from the inscription still plainly visible 
 on the great square viga near the door which 
 reads: 
 
 "El Seiior Marquez de la Penuela hizo esta fa- 
 brica. El Alferes Real Don Agustin Flores Ver- 
 gara su criado aiio de 1710." 
 
 "The Marquis de la Penuela erected this build- 
 ing. The Royal Ensign Don Agustin Flores Ver- 
 gara his servant. The year 1710." 
 
 Among other paintings in this church are the 
 one of St. Michael and the Dragon, nnd of the 
 Annunciation. 
 
 THE "OLD HOUSE." 
 
 The oldest house in the city, which is reputed to 
 date back beyond the time of the Spanish conquest 
 and thus to be the "Oldest House in the United 
 States," is situated just north of the Church of 
 San Miguel. 
 
 As the photographs still on sale show, this build- 
 ing until recently was two stories in height, the 
 second story being very low, and the floor between 
 the upper and lower rooms being of adobe. The 
 
buildino- was about 60 feet long-, but some years 
 ago the upper story of the easterly portion fell, 
 and quite recently the spirit of destruction which 
 is fast ruining- our most interesting historical 
 land marks, caused the second story of the 
 remainder to be removed. The first story how- 
 ever remains as it has been for centuries, and 
 there seems no reason to doubt that it is the most 
 
 i 
 
 The "Old House," 
 
 ancient building, continuously inhabited, in the 
 entire United States. 
 
 THE GARITA. 
 
 On the east side of the main road entering the 
 city from the south, stand the ruins of the Garita, 
 the only Spanish fortifications of which any re- 
 mains now exist in New Mexico. It was built with 
 two bastions and occupies a commanding position 
 on a hill. 
 
 Under the Mexican government it was used as a 
 custom house station, and all wagons coming from 
 the north were stopped here until the exceedingly 
 high duties of those days were paid. 
 
On the west side of the Garita, close to the wall, 
 the four leaders in the revolution of 1837, Deside- 
 rio Montoya, Antonio Abad Montoya, Gen. Cho- 
 pon and 'Alcalde Esquibel, were executed by com- 
 mand of Gen. Armijo in January, 1837. 
 
 OLD CEMETERY AND CHAPEL. 
 
 The oldest cemetery in the southwest, except the 
 g"raveyard immediately surrounding the church, 
 
 The Federal Building. 
 
 was very near the Garita, and the hig-h adobe wall 
 surrounding- it is still in quite good repair. On 
 one side of it was a small mortuary chapel where 
 funeral services were conducted. Many celebrated 
 historical characters are buried here, but unfortu- 
 nately no monumental stones distinguish their last 
 resting places. 
 
 CHURCH OF NUESTRA SENORA DE 
 GUADALUPE. 
 
 This church is situated just south of the river, 
 at the western edge of the citv, near the Santa Fe 
 
R. R. depot. Owing to the mcdern appearance of 
 a shingle roof and wooden steeple, it often escapes 
 attention, but is really of much historic interest. 
 The walls are very massive, and the carved sup- 
 ports of the vigas are the best specimens of their 
 class in the Territory. Prior to 1883 the church 
 was only opened once a year, on December 12; but 
 it was then renovated, many windows cut in its solid 
 
 walls: and has since been used by the English 
 speaking Roman Catholics for regular services. 
 
 The altar piece is a large group of pictures, 
 about 14 feet high by 10 wide. The large central 
 painting is of the Virgin of Guadalupe, copied 
 from the celebrated "imagen" in Mexico, and it 
 is surrounded by four scenes in the well known 
 legend, representing the appearances of the Vir- 
 gin to Juan Diego, and the visits of the latter to 
 the Bishop: the whole surmounted by a represen- 
 tation of the Trinity. 
 
 The church and sacristy contain many inter- 
 esting paintings, the most curious and valuable 
 
being- one painted on a plate of copper, 28 by 18 
 inches in size, by Sebastian Salcedo in 1779. 
 This also represents the Virg-in of Guadalupe, a 
 small portrait of Pope Benedict XIV being- intro- 
 duced. The statuette of the Virg-in standing- in the 
 crescent of the new moon, is a beautiful specimen 
 of antique wood carving-. 
 
 OLD FORT MARCY 
 
 is situated on a hig-h hill northeast of the Palace 
 Hotel, and the view from the summit Is universally 
 admired. 
 
 Historically it is a place of g-reat interest. As 
 a moment's observation will show its commanding- 
 military position, and that the army in posses- 
 sion of the hill controlled the city. In the old wars 
 this was the scene of many a warlike encampment, 
 and when, in 1680, the Pueblo revolted ag-ainst the 
 Spanish rule, the hill was occupied by the Indian 
 forces under Pope, on August 11, and the city be- 
 sieg-ed for 9 days, when the Spaniards were forced 
 to evacuate and retreat to El Paso. 
 
 On the 16th, of December, 1693, De Varg-as re- 
 entered Sania Fe, and encamped on this spot and 
 remained until the day after Christinas, when tliey 
 drove the Taiios Indians from ihe town, and re- 
 occupied its houses. 
 
 When Gen Kearney came in 1846, one of the first 
 matters undertaken after the occupation of Santa 
 Fe, on August 18, was the erection of a fortress 
 to command the city. This site was naturally 
 chosen, and Lieut., Gilmer and W. MacLean of 
 the Missouri Volunteers were appointed to super- 
 intend the construction. It was built by details 
 of Volunteers who complained g-rievously of hav- 
 
 13 
 
ing- to do this laborious work, when they had sim- 
 ply entered the army to fig'ht. 
 
 In shape the fori was an irregular tridecagon, 
 large enough to contain a thousand troops and 
 mount many cannon. It was named in honor of 
 Hon. W. L. Marcy, then Secretary of War: and the 
 remains of its massive adobe ;valls are still of con- 
 siderable heig-ht. Behind the fort was a block- 
 
 The Capitol. 
 house, the ruins of which are distinctly to be seen. 
 The height of the fort above the Plaza, is 291 feet. 
 
 THE PLACE OF THE ASSASSINA- 
 TION OF GOV. PEREZ. 
 
 This is about 2 miles southwest of the Plaza on 
 the Agua Fria road. It is now very appropriate- 
 ly marked by a neat stone monument erected by 
 the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1901. 
 
 It was here that the Governor, in the Revolution 
 of 1837, while retreating- from the Capital, was 
 killed by an arrow fired by a Pueblo Indian from 
 
Santo Domingo. His assailants then forced San- 
 tiago Prada, by threats of death, to cut off his 
 head, which was carried to the insur-gent encamp- 
 ment near the Rosario Chapel and treated with 
 great indignity. 
 
 AZTEC SPRING. 
 
 Ihis Spring, which from the earliest Spanish 
 occupation, was renowned among the Pueblo In- 
 
 
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 St. Vincent's Hospital. 
 dians for its valuable curative properties, was 
 filled up and hidden in the Pueblo Revolution of 
 1680, and thenceforward only known by tradition, 
 until it was re-discovered by Captain John x\yers, 
 April 17, 1885. 
 
 It was always known among the Indians as the 
 •'Ojo del Gigante, (The Spring of the Giant) and is 
 beautifully situated in the western slope of the 
 mountains about 24 miles easterly from Santa Fe. 
 The view from the Spring is magnificent. 
 
lu addition to the above there are located in 
 Santa Fe, the handsome new Capitol Building", 
 the Penitentiary, and the Territorial Deaf and 
 Dumb Asylum— all modern building's and fully 
 equipped with the latest improvements and acces- 
 sories for carrying on the work for which they 
 were erected. The U. S. Government conducts 
 here a very large and flourishing- Indian school for 
 both sexes. It also has the Federal Building-, oc- 
 cupied by the surveyor general, collector of inter- 
 nal revenue, the court of private land claims, and 
 the register and receiver of the L. O. It also has 
 on the west side of the city a beau iful National 
 Cemetery in which are interred the remains of more 
 than fifteen hundred soldiers of the Nation. The 
 San Miguel college conducted by the Christian 
 Brothers was founded in 1850. 
 
 The Academy of Our Lady of Light in charge of 
 the Sisters of Lorreto was established in 1852. 
 The beautiful stone Chapel connected with it, is a 
 fine specimen of pure Gothic architect. 
 
 The Sisters of Charity have large and commo- 
 dius buildings in which they conduct a scho(»l for 
 orphan girls, a Territorial Hospital, and a Sani- 
 tarium. 
 
 The Presbyterian Mission school for girls, is a 
 very large and commodious building used exclu- 
 sively for the education of native -children. 
 
 St. Katharine's Indian school near the National 
 Cemetery, was founded and endowed by Miss Ka- 
 tharine Drexel, of Philadelphia, and is conducted 
 by Catholic Sisterhood, of which she is the 
 founder. 
 
 The Cathedral of San Francisco de Assissi, is a 
 modern building not yet completed in accordance 
 
with its design, but has bean used for worship dur- 
 ing the past twenty years. It was built over the 
 former adobe Parish church, under the auspices 
 of the venerated Bishop Lamy. There are many 
 fine paintings and beautiful stained glass windows 
 in the structure: behind the altar is a richly 
 carved and painted reredos, erected by Gov. del 
 Valle and his wife in 1761. Also behind the altar 
 
 The Plaza. 
 
 of this Cathedral are preserved many fine old 
 paintings and rich vestmsnts. There are buried 
 the remains of two Franciscan Friars, who were 
 murdered by Indians as attested by the inscription 
 upon a beam set into the massive wall. 
 
 The Historical rooms in the Old Palace are filled 
 with rare and curious objects pertaining to the 
 earlier history of the Territory and the Spanish 
 invasion. The Plaza is full of historic interest. 
 
Here Oiiate camped and set up the banner of Spain, 
 and here General Kearney first floated the Stare 
 and Stripes in 1846, when he proclaimed American 
 Government in New Mexico, a spot marked with 
 an appropriate stone by the Daujjhters of the 
 American Revolution. In this Plaza the Indians 
 burned the archives and sa,cred vessels of the 
 Church during- the revolution of 1680: and here De 
 Vargas entered in triumph twelve years later. The 
 Territory has erected a handsome monument in the 
 center of the Plaza in memory of the soldiers who 
 fell on New Mexico soil in the various Indian 
 wars, and the war of the Rebellion, and the 
 Woman's Board of Trade has there placed a 
 handsome bronze drinking- fountain ip_rriemory of 
 Archbishop Lamy who was beloved by ' all. The 
 Womans Board of Trade has been in charge of 
 the Plaza for the past five years, by direction of 
 the City Government, and to this org-anization of 
 energetic ladies is due the present beauty of the 
 place. 
 
 From the strenuous life and turbulent times of 
 the past the City of the Holy Faith has become as 
 quiet and peaceful as a New England village, 
 looking back with pride upon the part it has 
 played in history and forward hopefully for its 
 future. 
 

 
 
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 Old San Miguel Church, Erected In 1540. 
 
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