The oldest capital city in the United States is Santa Fe, which has a rich and varied cultural history as well as the oldest public building still in use. Ancestral Puebloan Indians inhabited the area as early as 500 AD and Spanish explorers arrived in the early 1540s. When Mexico gained independence from Spain, Santa Fe became the capital of Nuevo Mejico.
It was not until 1912 that New Mexico achieved statehood. In the late 19th century the Southwest became a haven for tuberculosis patients and a number of sanatoriums were built in Santa Fe. Many creative individuals including poets, artists and architects stayed and significantly contributed to the city’s cultural and architectural development.
In 2005, Santa Fe received the distinction of being the first American community to be designated a “Creative City” by UNESCO.
Highlights of Santa Fe Art and Architecture include:
• Early Santa Fe Architecture
• The Tuberculosis Influence
• Fiestas and Celebrations
• Early Santa Fe Art
Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665 or online.
Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States. Our mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places. Have we done a book on your town? Visit arcadiapublishing.com.
