The Santa Fe Plaza is at the heart of downtown Santa Fe and has been for hundreds of years, enabling a variety of economic and social activity to take place over the decades. The presence of the Indian War Memorial monument along with a variety of shops and events to encourage the community to gather together have helped to define how Santa Fe is “The City Different” that engages residents and attract visitors in a unique and formidable manner.
The Commercial, Social and Political Center of Santa Fe
The Santa Fe Plaza has served as the historic, cultural and geographic center of Santa Fe since approximately 1610 when the city was first established. A fort that enclosed various buildings and residences surrounded the original plaza, but the wall of the fort was eventually taken down so that large houses could be built. At one point the Plaza served as the end point of El Camino Real (the Spanish Royal Road from Mexico City) as well as the end of the Santa Fe Trail, a trade route that went from Missouri to New Mexico. The Daughters of the American Revolution installed the “End of the Santa Fe Trail” marker in 1911 on the southeast corner of the Plaza.
The Indian War Memorial monument in the center of the Plaza is the most notable attraction in the Plaza. Erected in 1868, it is inscribed on its four sides with different messages dedicated to soldiers that lost their lives in various battles, including the Battle of Valverde and the Battle of Canon del Apache. The monument was built during times of great conflict between the cultures that came together in Santa Fe, and the language used in the inscription has compelled the community to reconsider these messages in order to enable a more unified city.
Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, the Santa Fe Plaza is surrounded by restaurants, shops and museums. Many seasonal community events are held at the Plaza, and it is often filled to capacity with people enjoying the sprit and activities that make it “The City Different.”
Economic Opportunities and Cultural Significance
By serving as a central gathering place for both locals and tourists, the Santa Fe Plaza has been able to cultivate an incredible amount of economic activity. Shops and restaurants surround the Plaza, and they range from jewelers to restaurants to cafes to boutiques. Tours and walking trips provide further economic opportunities for the community as well as additional happenings at the Plaza. All of these businesses have been able to survive and thrive thanks to the activity the Plaza has helped generate.
The Santa Fe Plaza also features a stage that provides a specific place for people to gather for many of the events that are listed on the Santa Fe events calendar. This stage and the Plaza itself host a variety of performances and fairs that take place throughout the year. They range from classes to workshops to exhibitions to happy hours, giving residents and visitors various options and opportunities to connect with one another.
Numerous maps of the city prominently display the Plaza, providing visitors with an easy place to begin and end their journey in the city. It also provides easy access to numerous landmarks located in Santa Fe, including the historic Palace of the Governors that overlooks the Plaza. The New Mexico Museum of Art is located right across from it, while Cathedral Park is less than a city block from the Plaza. Additionally, the Plaza is a key element of the Santa Fe Historical District.
Santa Fe Plaza’s position as the hub of so much economic and cultural activity showcases what it can mean when a plaza or square becomes more than a location on a city map. When this happens, these places turn into monuments in and of themselves that can drive and enable their own legacies.
“The City Different”
Like other famous squares and plazas, the Santa Fe Plaza is the geographic center of the city, which created an opportunity for it to be so much more than a block in the center of the city. The creation of monuments like the Indian War Memorial helped to enable that, but the combination of these elements has embodied the spirit behind “The City Different” that continues to influence the identity of the city.
