EXPLORING
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By Miguel Pérez
Part 15 of a series If you have seen photos of historic downtown Santa Fe, you know the image of the Palace of the Governors. But if you have never seen it, you could reasonably ask why they call this place a palace.
It's definitely a unique, block-long, one-story, adobe structure, built in the Spanish-Pueblo-Revival style architecture and it covers the entire north side of historic Santa Fe Plaza. But if you don't know its history, you see it as a cute, shady place for Native American street vendors to showcase their unique merchandise. You don't know why they call this place a palace. Well, in fact, from 1610 to 1909, the Spanish, Mexican and American governors of New Mexico lived here! The building also served as New Mexico's capitol during the Spanish colonial era (1610-1680 and 1692-1821) and the Mexican era (1821-1846). It was the American territorial capitol until 1886, but remained as the American governor's residence until 1909. Back when it was built for Spanish governor Don Pedro de Peralta in 1610, it was facing the enter of town, and it still is! Santa Fe Plaza is across the street. The plaza is the traditional Spanish four-block square park with a gazebo in the middle. It's a beautiful place to take a stroll, listen to a concert, and shop in the stores on the three other sides of the square. Yet, next to the gazebo, stealing the romance and history of this place, there is a huge pedestal with a missing monument. The obelisk that stood here was demolished by protestors (WHEN) who objected honoring Civil War Union soldiers. Yes, Union soldiers! You've heard about all the Confederate monuments that have valndalized and removed, right? Well, this was a monument to Union soldiers — New Mexicans including many who were Hispanic. Why? Because in this part of the country, Native Americans hold grudges against. Yet, instead of an obelisk, all they have left is a pedestal with a sign vaguely explaining why the pedestal is missing. It has been that way for so long that the sign has deteriorated (see photos) to the point where you cannot read them completely. It's embarrassing! But I'm going to refrain from further comments for now, because I want to focus on the beautiful things I'm seeing in New Mexico. I will deal with a few of its self-inflicted, anti-Hispanic scars later on in a separate article. the founder of Santa Fe, |
En español: Una plaza, un palacio y un obelisco profanado
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To read other parts of this ongoing series, click: EXPLORING NEW MEXICO
