> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://hiking-ohio.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Stop #9 Santa Fe, New Mexico - URL: https://hiking-ohio.com/stop-9-santa-fe-new-mexico/ - Published: 2026-10-30T21:19:19.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-30T21:19:19.000Z - Description: 1610 — Spanish capital: Spanish colonists under Pedro de Peralta established Santa Fe as the capital of Nuevo México. It became the governmental center of the Spanish colony. Santa Fe is commonly described as the oldest continuously inhabited state capital in the United States. - Author: Lori Jordan - Tags: santa fe, santa fe trading post, dorothy Scarritt mckibbin, loretto, miraculous staircase, monastery lake, abbey, puebloan, coronado, 1610, pedro de peralta, nuevo mexico, spanish, catholic, 1821, 1848 treaty of guadalupe hidalgo, santa fe rancheros rv park and campground, centennial route 66, santa fe trail, rancheros de santa fe resort & campground, rocks trail, old las vegas highway, our lady of guadalupe abbey., ajendro valle, valley ranching company, benedictine, glorieta baldy, sangre de cristo mountains, pecos valley, glorieta pass, great plains, rio grande valley, civil war, battle of glorieta pass, confederate, battlefield, National Park Service, pecos national historical park, holy ghost campground, pecos, glorieta, fire lookout, forest road 375, day-hiking, randall davey audubon center & sanctuary, birds, artist, coronado historic site, kuaua pueblo, tiwq, 1797, seven cities of gold, francisco Vasquez de coronado, kiva, artifacts, jemez, santa fe reptile and bug museum, wade harrell Santa Fe boasts one of the longest and most unique urban histories in the United States, influenced by Indigenous cultures, Spanish colonization, Mexican heritage, and American development. ### Santa Fe History - Before European settlement, the Santa Fe area was home to Indigenous peoples for centuries, including Pueblo communities, and was part of a broader network of settlements and trade routes. - In 1610, Spanish colonists led by Pedro de Peralta established Santa Fe as the capital of Nuevo México, making it the governmental center of the colony and often cited as the oldest continuously inhabited state capital in the U.S. - In 1680, the Pueblo peoples, under Popé’s leadership, revolted against Spanish rule, forcing the Spanish out for about twelve years. - By 1692–1693, Spanish forces under Diego de Vargas returned, reasserting control through significant negotiations with Pueblo communities while restoring colonial authority. - From the 1700s to the early 1800s, Santa Fe thrived as a hub of government, Catholic missions, agriculture, and trade, benefiting from routes connecting it to Chihuahua and other parts of New Spain. - In 1821, after Mexico’s independence from Spain, Santa Fe became part of Mexico, and the opening of the Santa Fe Trail linked it to Missouri, boosting trade with the United States. - In 1846, during the Mexican-American War, U.S. forces occupied Santa Fe, leading to New Mexico’s territorial status under the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. - Between 1850 and 1912, it remained the territorial capital, with the arrival of the railroad in the 1880s bringing new people, businesses, architecture, and economic changes. - In the early 20th century, Santa Fe began promoting its Spanish Pueblo Revival style, fostering preservation and tourism. --- ### Santa Fe Rancheros RV Park & Campground Santa Fe Rancheros RV Park and Campground is at 736 Old Las Vegas Highway, Santa Fe, New Mexico, just off I-25\. It is a particularly interesting campground because it sits along the original Route 66 alignment and near the historic Santa Fe Trail. ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_8748.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_8749.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_20260622_092146213_HDR.jpg) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_20260622_092217383_HDR.jpg) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_20260622_161300409_HDR.jpg) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_20260622_161302909_HDR.jpg) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_20260622_161620372_HDR.jpg) ### Campground History The campground is a fairly modern operation, not a preserved 19th-century Santa Fe Trail site. For many years, it ran as Rancheros de Santa Fe RV Resort & Campground, before being rebranded in 2026 as Santa Fe Rancheros RV Park and Campground under new ownership. **Address:** 736 Old Las Vegas Highway, Santa Fe, NM 87505 **Camping options:** RV sites with hookups, tent sites, tent domes, and camping cabins. **Amenities:** The park offers a variety of amenities, including full-hookup RV sites with 30- and 50-amp service, pull-through and back-in spots, tent camping, tent domes, and cozy camping cabins. Visitors can enjoy a swimming pool in the summer, a playground, walking and hiking trails, a dog park, restrooms with hot showers, laundry facilities, a recreation room, a dump station, propane service, Wi-Fi, and a small store or gift shop. It’s big-rig friendly, with certain sites providing 50-amp service. Funny story to tell. We checked in for our campsite. There were no other tents or RV's around. We went to get some groceries and when we came back, there was a "huge" RV parked right next to our tent. There were other empty sites for RV's but they picked the one right next to us. You can see it in our tent picture above. It really wasn't a problem, but it is funny. **Rocks Trail at the Campground** ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/1V3A2790.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/1V3A2697.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/1V3A2709.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/1V3A2715.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/1V3A2719.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/1V3A2721.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/1V3A2724.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/1V3A2761.JPG) There is a short hiking trail in the back of the campground. While we were walking, we noticed some rock circles. We asked about them and no one seemed to know why they were there. It was really cool to see though. --- ### Historical Information Near the Campground **Old Las Vegas Highway:** The campground's address is on what is now NM-300/Old Las Vegas Highway, providing a direct connection to the historic transportation corridors leading east from Santa Fe. The campground itself identifies its location as Historic Route 66 and adjacent to the Santa Fe Trail. **Old Route 66:** From 1926 to 1937, Santa Fe was part of the original Route 66, with the highway passing through the area before it was rerouted to the west of the city. There are many dilapidated sites on Historic 66. ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/1V3A2610.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_8584.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_20260622_123544869_HDR.jpg) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_20260624_130232973_HDR.jpg) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_20260622_123610530_HDR.jpg) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_20260622_123626201_HDR-1.jpg) **Santa Fe Trail:** From 1821 to 1880, the Santa Fe Trail served as a vital trade route linking Missouri and Santa Fe. Wagons loaded with merchandise, military supplies, travelers, and various goods made their way through New Mexico toward the bustling town of Santa Fe. ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_8492.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/1V3A2618.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/1V3A2619.JPG) Staying at Rancheros means camping in a place where Indigenous travel routes, the Santa Fe Trail, early highways, Route 66, and modern Interstate 25 showcase generations of transportation through the area. The property spans about 22 acres of piñon pine and juniper, offering a much more wooded, country feel than your typical urban RV park. --- ### Sisters of Loretto The Loretto Chapel is one of Santa Fe’s most iconic historic sites, famous for its mysterious spiral staircase known as the Miraculous Staircase. Its story weaves together French Catholic missionary work, 19th-century architecture, skilled craftsmanship, and a captivating legend. Built between 1873 and 1878 at the request of the Sisters of Loretto, who came to New Mexico to educate girls and establish Catholic schools, the chapel was designed in the Gothic Revival style, inspired by Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, and completed in 1878. ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/chapel.jpg) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_8512.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/stairs.jpg) This is the tale that brought the chapel worldwide fame. When construction was finished, a problem arose: the choir loft stood about 20 feet above the floor, but the architect had passed away before creating a staircase. The staircase has several unusual features: - Two complete 360-degree turns. - No conventional central supporting column. - Wooden pegs rather than conventional nails. - An elegant curved wooden structure. The identity of its builder remains a subject of historical debate. One leading candidate is French carpenter François-Jean Rochas, although his involvement has not been conclusively established. We ran out of time to visit this site, however if we return we will definitely visit the chapel. Address: 207 Old Santa Fe Trail Santa Fe, NM 87501 Phone: (505) 982-0092 The chapel is in downtown Santa Fe, within easy walking distance of the historic Plaza and Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. - Hours: Generally 9:00 AM–5:00 PM daily. - Admission: Approximately $5 adults; $4 seniors (65+); $3 youth ages 7–17; children under 7 free. - Time needed: Allow 20–30 minutes. - Phone: (505) 982-0092. - Parking: Metered street parking or nearby paid public parking. - Photography: Personal photography is permitted. - Staircase: You can view it up close, but visitors cannot climb it. Hours and admission details are subject to change, and weddings may cause temporary closures. --- ### Monastery Lake and Our Lady of Guadalupe Abbey ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_20260622_125532541_HDR-2.jpg) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_20260622_130646596-3.jpg) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/abbey.jpg) The history of the property goes back to the 1800s. - 1852: Alejandro Valle purchased the property. - 1886: The Valley Ranching Company acquired it after the Civil War. - The property became known as Valley Ranch and operated a tourist establishment called the Valley Ranch Apache Inn. - 1947: Trappist monks from Rhode Island purchased the ranch. - 1948: They formally established a monastery there. - 1955: Benedictine monks acquired the monastery. Today, it is operated by the Olivetan Benedictine Congregation. The monks follow the Rule of St. Benedict, emphasizing prayer, hospitality, work, and community life. **Our Lady of Guadalupe Abbey** - Address: 16 Guadalupe Lane, Pecos, NM 87552. - Telephone: (505) 757-6415. - Property: Approximately 1,000 acres. - The monastery offers retreat accommodations, meals, and opportunities for quiet reflection. The monastery welcomes individuals and groups seeking spiritual retreats, but it is an active religious community. Contact them before visiting buildings or grounds beyond the public lake access. We did not have time to explore, but it looks like a relaxing place to visit. --- ### **Glorieta Baldy** Glorieta Baldy is a mountain peak in the Santa Fe National Forest, located southeast of Santa Fe. It’s home to a historic fire lookout tower and offers sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. The name can be misleading, as Glorieta Baldy is not the same as Santa Fe Baldy. Santa Fe Baldy towers higher in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, while Glorieta Baldy is linked to the Glorieta/Pecos region. Glorieta Baldy lies in a unique spot where several major geographic regions converge. The nearby Glorieta Mesa creates a striking shift between the southern Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains. The upper Pecos Valley sits at around 7,000 feet, with surrounding mountain peaks soaring well above 10,000 feet. Glorieta Baldy sits near Glorieta Pass, a place steeped in history. For thousands of years, the pass served as a natural pathway connecting the Great Plains and the Rio Grande Valley. Indigenous peoples journeyed and traded through the area long before Europeans arrived. Later, Spanish colonists, Mexican travelers, American traders, and those traveling the Santa Fe Trail passed through this storied route. The area gained fame during the Civil War thanks to the Battle of Glorieta Pass, fought from March 26 to 28, 1862\. This clash was part of the Confederate push to expand westward and take control of the Southwest, but Union forces ultimately brought that campaign to a halt. Today, the battlefield lies within Pecos National Historical Park. The National Park Service portrays Glorieta Pass as a significant historic gateway where people and cultures traveled for thousands of years. ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_8563-1.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_8580-1.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_8581.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_8592-1.JPG) The rocks and mountains in the area are incredibly ancient. Beneath the surface lie crystalline Precambrian rocks about 1.7 billion years old, while the modern Sangre de Cristo Mountains were formed and uplifted roughly 40 to 70 million years ago. ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/page-152-glorieta-baldy-1.webp) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/page-153-glorieta-baldy-1.webp) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/page-154-glorieta-baldy-1.webp) There was a woman working in the gift shop at Randall Davey Audubon Center & Sanctuary that provided me with the above information. Unfortunately, I took the picture of the information with my phone and didn't do a great job. It is readable though....barely. --- ### Holy Ghost Campground Near Pecos and Glorieta, New Mexico Our friend and his family owned a gold mine on Glorieta Baldy, accessible only by horseback. Unfortunately, the gold required a specific processing method, and the only person who knew how to do it passed away before sharing the procedure. Anyway, our friend and his wife traveled to Glorieta Baldy shortly after they got married. They brought their horses and visited the mine. They camped at Holy Ghost Campground, which we discovered while driving around the area. We didn’t stay there, though. ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/OIP-1.jpg) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/OIP--1-.jpg) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/OIP--2-.jpg) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/1V3A2607.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/1V3A2603.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/1V3A2605.JPG) Nestled in a shady forest with stunning mountain views and a peaceful creek, this camping spot offers individual sites on a first-come, first-served basis, along with a designated group area for bigger gatherings. Amenities include picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets, but be sure to bring your own drinking water. Access: Take NM-63 north from Pecos, then Forest Road 122 (Holy Ghost Canyon Road) for about 4 miles. The access road is narrow and rough in places. I was able to do some fancy driving on the access road which was a lot of fun. Official campground information: [US Forest Service / Recreation.gov ](https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/231892?utm%5Fsource=chatgpt.com) Directions: [Open Holy Ghost Campground in Google Maps ](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Holy+Ghost+Campground%2C+Tererro%2C+New+Mexico&utm%5Fsource=chatgpt.com) One important note: Holy Ghost is near the Pecos Wilderness, but it is not the campground right by the Glorieta Baldy summit. --- ### **The Fire Lookout** One of the most fascinating historical landmarks at Glorieta Baldy is its fire lookout tower, built in 1940 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/fire.jpg) Fire lookouts were placed on high vantage points, allowing observers to spot smoke from forest fires across vast distances. Before the advent of modern aircraft, satellites, cameras, and advanced fire-detection systems, these towers played a crucial role in detecting wildfires in the American West. The Glorieta Baldy Lookout Tower Historic Site remains an important reminder of that era of forest management. The road was closed due to fire danger so we didn't get to see it. Glorieta Baldy is a more secluded spot compared to the historic battlefield. Getting there requires traveling along Forest Road 375, also called Glorieta Baldy Road, and road conditions can influence how far vehicles are able to go. ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_8487-1.JPG) *End of the line for us at Randall Davey Audubon Center & Sanctuary* --- ### Hiking and visiting The Glorieta Battlefield Trail is about 2.25 miles round trip, with around 500 feet of elevation gain, and is rated by the National Park Service as moderately strenuous. The summit is home to the Glorieta Picnic Site and a lookout tower. --- ### Randall Davey Audubon Center & Sanctuary The Randall Davey Audubon Center & Sanctuary, located at 1800 Upper Canyon Road in Santa Fe, New Mexico, spans 135 acres of preserved nature and serves as an environmental education hub. It blends a significant part of Santa Fe’s cultural heritage with a haven for wild birds, native plants, and other wildlife. ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/bldg-1.jpg) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/sign-1.jpg) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/rd6--1-of-1-.jpg) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/54571312259_50e19a5015_b.jpg) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/OIP--1-.webp) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/OIP.webp) The property is fascinating, with a history that spans from Indigenous heritage and Spanish colonial land grants to 19th-century milling, the life of a celebrated American artist, and the rise of modern conservation. Today, it’s managed by Audubon Southwest, a branch of the National Audubon Society. Randall Davey (1887–1964) was an American painter, printmaker, and sculptor who played a key role in the Santa Fe art scene. In 1920, he bought the property from the Martinez family and converted the old mill buildings into his home and studio, blending them with the local architectural style. He lived and worked there until his passing in 1964, and his home became a welcoming spot for family, friends, and fellow artists in Santa Fe. The Randall Davey House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. The modern sanctuary took shape in 1983, when Randall Davey’s heirs gifted the property to the National Audubon Society. Their goal was to safeguard the land and historic buildings for wildlife protection, education, cultural events, and public enjoyment. Today, Audubon Southwest oversees the property as a hub for conservation and environmental learning. The sanctuary safeguards a mix of habitats, such as piñon-juniper woodlands that provide a dry environment vital to many Southwestern birds, ponderosa pine forests offering shelter, nesting spaces, and food for forest birds, and native and wildlife gardens created to support birds, pollinators, and other beneficial species. It also protects the Santa Fe River watershed, a crucial water source and habitat in this arid area, and the historic Acequia del Llano, an irrigation ditch symbolizing generations of community water stewardship. The official Audubon history reports that more than 190 bird species have been recorded at or above the sanctuary. The precise number seen during a visit varies with season, migration, and weather. Location: 1800 Upper Canyon Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501 Audubon's website lists 8 a.m.–4 p.m. during its operating season, February through December, with a seasonal closure from December 22 through January 31\. Check the official website before traveling for current schedules and holiday exceptions. --- ### Coronado Historic Site Located: 485 Kuaua Rd Bernalillo, NM 87004 Phone: (505) 867-5351 The site holds the remnants of Kuaua Pueblo, a Tiwa community established around 1300 CE along the Rio Grande. In 1540, Spanish explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado and his expedition camped nearby while chasing the legendary Seven Cities of Gold. While the riches proved elusive, it became one of the earliest encounters between Europeans and Pueblo peoples in the American Southwest. By the early 1600s, the pueblo was left behind as its residents relocated to other villages. ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_0603.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_0611.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_0613.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_0618.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_0627.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_0653.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_0661.JPG) Discover the excavated ruins of Kuaua Pueblo, featuring a reconstructed square kiva with breathtaking pre-contact mural paintings—some of the finest Native American art in North America. Stop by the center to view original mural fragments, Native American artifacts, and exhibits on Pueblo life and Coronado’s expedition, then wander along a self-guided interpretive trail through the historic site. Located about 17 miles north of Albuquerque, this historic site is often paired with visits to the nearby Petroglyph National Monument and the scenic Jemez Mountains. We visited on our way to Santa Fe. --- ### Santa Fe Reptile and Bug Museum — Location & Information The Santa Fe Reptile and Bug Museum is a hands-on natural history attraction in Santa Fe, New Mexico, featuring live reptiles, insects, amphibians, and other unusual animals. It is designed as an educational experience where visitors can learn about creatures that are often misunderstood. We stumbled upon this museum and decided to take a look **Address:** 8380 Cerrillos Rd, Suite 108 Santa Fe, NM 87507 (Located in the Santa Fe Fashion Outlets area) **Phone:** (505) 695-8569 **Typical hours:** - Tuesday–Saturday: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM - Sunday: 12:00 PM–4:00 PM - Monday: Closed (Hours can change, so checking before visiting is recommended.) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/1V3A2655.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/1V3A2656.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/1V3A2662.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/1V3A2663.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/1V3A2668.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/1V3A2675.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/1V3A2676.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/1V3A2685.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/1V3A2671.JPG) The museum was founded by Wade Harrell as an educational project focused on teaching people about reptiles, insects, and conservation. Many of the animals displayed are former pets that were adopted when owners could no longer care for them. The museum also provides outreach programs for schools, camps, and community events. It is a smaller, specialty museum rather than a large traditional zoo, but it offers close-up encounters with unusual animals and a more personal educational experience. --- ### Dorothy Scarritt McKibbin ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_8518.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_8517-1.JPG) She played a key behind-the-scenes role in the Manhattan Project in Santa Fe, New Mexico, earning the nickname “Gatekeeper of Los Alamos.” During World War II, Dorothy worked at 109 East Palace Avenue in Santa Fe, a building that served as the secret processing and reception center for those arriving to work at the Los Alamos laboratory. Address: 109 East Palace Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501. Her duties included processing newly recruited scientists, engineers, military personnel, and other staff; handling security paperwork and coordinating clearances; issuing identification and passes for entry to the restricted Los Alamos site; arranging transportation; managing confidential personnel records and administrative tasks; and helping newcomers and their families settle into life in New Mexico. She worked closely with J. Robert Oppenheimer, becoming a trusted colleague and friend. As Los Alamos was a highly classified military installation, scientists could not simply arrive and enter the laboratory. Dorothy was often the first point of contact for the Manhattan Project, and while she didn’t make all the clearance decisions herself, she played a vital role in processing individuals and coordinating their access. She stayed in Santa Fe after the war and passed away in 1985\. In her honor, Los Alamos named Dorothy McKibbin Hall. Her life story is captured in the book *Dorothy Scarritt McKibbin: Gatekeeper to Los Alamos* by Nancy Cook Steeper. --- ### Santa Fe Trading Post One of Santa Fe's most recognizable historic-looking storefronts is The Original Trading Post, located just steps from the historic Plaza. - Address: 201 W. San Francisco Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501 - Phone: (505) 984-0759 - Hours: Daily, generally 10 AM–5 PM. - Website: [Original Trading Post ](https://www.originaltradingpost.com/?utm%5Fsource=chatgpt.com) - Location: Just west of Santa Fe Plaza. According to local tradition, a trading post was established on this site in 1603, predating the arrival of the Mayflower in 1620\. This date is more of a traditional claim than a firmly documented founding for the current business. The location holds historical significance as Santa Fe was a key hub for trade among Spanish settlers, Indigenous communities, and merchants traveling regional routes. The present building boasts a rich commercial history, with archaeological digs in 1998 revealing an old well beneath it and yielding around 700 artifacts that shed light on its past occupants and activities. Highlights include the distinctive Spanish ox cart on the roof, Native American jewelry and pottery, Southwestern gifts, art, collectibles, and its deep connection to Santa Fe’s centuries-old trading traditions. ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_8515.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_8497.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_8498.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_8502.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_8503.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_8508-1.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/IMG_8511.JPG) ![](https://hiking-ohio.com/content/images/2026/10/sfe-tp.jpg) --- ### Conclusion: We had a great time visiting Santa Fe, New Mexico. There’s so much to see and do, from exploring unique attractions to enjoying local culture. We definitely recommend checking out Santa Fe.