Where to Find Navajo Rugs

Woman's Fancy manta, public domain

  One of those sought after Native American products are the beautiful Navajo Rugs. There's quite a bit of history involved as to when and how the Navajo began making these distinctive products. Historians believe that the  Navajo may have learned to weave from the Pueblo Indians when the Navajo moved into the Four Corners region of Arizona and New Mexico between the era of the 1300's to the 1500's. Some others believe that the Navajo's were not involved in weaving to perhaps the 1700's. This would have been after Spaniards entered the region. At first the Navajo's employed cotton for their weaving products but it seems that they converted over to wool after the Spaniards arrived.

There's some interesting history that might explain how the Navajo's learned the craft from the nearby pueblo peoples.While historians can document that the two different tribes did not exactly get along because of Navajo raids into pueblo territory, it appears that the two tribes did indeed forge some type of friendship after the Conquistadors entered the picture. The pueblo Indians were put into a kind of forced servitude during the first Spanish occupation of Nuevo Mexico which resulted in the bloody Pueblo Revolt of 1680. It was during and after this revolt that many pueblo Indians fled westward to the land of the Navajo.

The earliest pieces of Navajo weaving which can be dated and that are still exist today come to us from Massacre Cave in Canon del Muerto. Pieces of Navajo weaving dating to the years 1804-05 when the punitive slaughter took place in the Canon, were found circa 1900. These pieces contain a plain stripe pattern in the blanket's designs. This is considered a Navajo adaptation of the Pueblo teacher's style of design. 

Rug door on Navajo winter hogan,1880-1910

Commerce increased for the Navajo and the selling of Navajo blankets and Navajo rugs after the opening of the Santa Fe Trail in 1822. The first products on the market were blankets rather than rugs. The change to rugs happened circa 1880.

Today, there is a large market for the Navajo rug and and the Navajo blanket and many Navajo's are involved in it's commercialization. These genuine Navajo rug products today might sell for $800 and for many Navajo's this business represents their sole income. The only real obstacle for their rug industry are the many foreign imitations that are found in many shops. It's important to know what you're buying and while there are certainly many top-notch dealers of genuine Navajo rugs in the Santa Fe and surrounding area, one excellent auction venue in particular, the Crownpoint Auction,  will allow you to buy the real thing directly on the Navajo reservation.

Auctions are held usually the second Friday of each month on the Navajo reservation. The auctions is planned to start at about 7 pm and ends around 10 pm. Payment is accepted in cash, traveler checks or personal checks. The auction does not accept credit cards. The auction itself is held at the Crownpoint Elementary School in the small town of Crownpoint. The town is located about 25 miles north of Thoreau New Mexico on NM 371. The Thoreau exit on Interstate-40 is #53. Thoreau is located between gallup and Grants New Mexico. If you're in Santa Fe or on Interstate-40 in New Mexico on the auction dates, a visit to the Crownpoint Auction makes a very unique and rewarding side trip.

Buyers at the Crownpoint Rug Auction have the  unique opportunity to purchase Navajo rugs directly from the weavers themselves and prices that are well below retail. The Crownpoint Rug Weavers Association has been auctioning rugs from all over the reservation since 1968. The auction keeps growing in popularity and brings buyers from all over the United States and the world. For additional information the auction phone number is 505-787-7386.

The High Road to Taos

The High Road Art Tour

The High Road to Taos is one of the most scenic and culturally rich drives you could wish to take in northern New Mexico. It's a New Mexican artist mecca and it's also a great side trip to a Santa Fe vacation. The High Road to Taos is known as a 56 mile route through the scenic Sangre de Cristo Mountains between Santa Fe and Taos New Mexico. The route winds through Indian villages, art community towns and parts of the high desert of northern New Mexico.


Officially, the High Road to Taos begins at the intersection of US Hwy 285/84 and NM 503. This is about 17 miles north of Santa Fe. The route officially ends in Rancho de Taos where NM 518 meets NM 68. Most New Mexican's however consider the end to be at the San Francisco de Asis Mission church which is a few blocks south. While every route between Santa Fe and Taos is scenic, if time permits, taking the High Road to Taos at least once is really a must drive to take.


In a lot of ways the Spanish heritage of New Mexico is most prominent in towns along this beautiful route. The local dialect is distinctive, and area residents can claim ancestors who settled the towns in the 18th century. While some of these towns to the New Mexico tourist may seem remote and a bit closed off geographically, you'll come upon quaint art galleries which offer the authentic quality of New Mexican artwork you'll find in galleries in Santa Fe and Taos. Actually, the scenery you see while driving the route is the same scenery that has inspired many artists and artisans who live along the High Road. This area of northern New Mexico gets it's share of snow and cold weather. That's one of the reasons that ski slopes in Santa Fe and Taos attract so many winter tourists. By the same token, some, not all,  of the galleries along the High Road to Taos also stay open year round. 

Gallery in Truchas New Mexico

One special time along this famous route is during the last half of September. This is the time of the "High Road Art Tour' which takes place the last two weekends every September. The High Road Art Tour gives you the opportunity to deal directly with the artists as well as visit the tiny, historic Land Grant villages along the way. You'll be able to browse multiple crafts and all types of traditional works along with contemporary painting and arts. As art tours are concerned, this one is truly unique in many ways. The High Road Art Tour is conducted by the High Road Artisans, a volunteer-run organization. You may want to visit their website for additional information and event postings at  highroadnewmexico.com

The High Road to Taos will also pass by Chimayo which is home to El Sancturario de Chimayo,  The Chimayo Sancturario is a world renown church which dates back to the very first Spanish settlers in the area and is considered a shrine where over 300,000 visitors travel there annually. This is a must stop while driving this route. 


The drive on the High Road to Taos is an adventure and a great photo taking opportunity.

The Santa Fe Ski Basin...One of New Mexico's Most Popular Ski Areas

Santa Fe Ski Basin lodge

One of the best things about driving up to the Santa Fe Ski basin from the city is the absolutely gorgeous drive getting there. The total distance from where the road begins (Washington Street and Artist Road) is about 15 miles. This is 15 miles of winding road where you'll have some great vistas and some excellent photo opportunities. The road to the Santa Fe Ski Basin  passes directly through Hyde State Park which is about 7.5 miles up the mountain. Another 7 miles on the road past Hyde State Park and you're at the ski area. When you arrive at the top you'll find a very large parking area and a trailhead if you're wanting to hike into the high mountain back country. The Ski Santa Fe area is located within the Santa Fe National Forest and is one of the largest in New Mexico along with the Ski Taos Resort about 2 1/2 hours north of Santa Fe.

During the winter months the Santa Fe Ski Basin is popular with both local skiers and skiers from across the country and the world. Because Santa Fe is a days drive from many points in Texas, you'll see plenty of Texas license plates in the parking lot, especially around winter holiday times.


The Santa Fe Ski area is situated high in the beautiful Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The elevation at the Ski basin base is 10,350 feet above sea level. This elevation makes the Santa Fe Ski Basin one of the highest ski areas in the United States. In addition to that, the Millennium Triple Chairlift will take skiers to a height of 12,075 feet. That is truly high.

Santa Fe Ski Basin chairlifts

Ski equipment and snowboard rentals are available at the base lodge and lessons are always available. The lodge building also has food and beverages, lockers and a ski accessory and clothing shop. Also a great Bunny Trail for the youngsters. Another thing that has always made the ski area popular is it's close proximity to the city of Santa Fe and it's good selection of lodgings and dining. There are no overnight accommodations on top of the mountain so people stay overnight in the city and enjoy the Santa Fe sights and entertainment.

There are many things to do at and near the Ski Santa Fe area during non-winter months. Chair lift rides are available in the fall to take in the great scenery and change of colors. The mountain is filled with a mixture of Aspens and firs and when fall arrives and the Aspens change to a golden color it's quite beautiful. Another very popular endeavor all over the mountain is trail hiking.Hyde State park itself has numerous hiking trails with a good mixture easy and not so easy hikes.

Cross Country ski trails

La Piedra Trail will connect the Dale Ball Trail North to the Little Tesuque Creek Trail. The new trail means that for the first time people will be able to get on Santa Fe trails near downtown and hike, bike or run all the way up to the Santa Fe ski basin. "You would no longer have to go on paved road [Hyde Park Road] to get to the mountains," said Charlie O'Leary, executive director of the Santa Fe Conservation Trust.

The Trust is hiring a Madrid firm called Anasazi Trails to design and construct the trail. O'Leary said there will be opportunities for volunteers to join local trail-advocacy groups such as the Trails Alliance of Santa Fe and the Santa Fe Fat Tire Society to work on the trail.

There is recent new about a new connecting hiking trail to the Santa Fe Ski Basin. La Piedra Trail will connect the Dale Ball Trail North to the Little Tesuque Creek Trail. For the first time people will be able to get on Santa Fe trails near the downtown area and hike, bike or run all the way up to the Santa Fe Ski Basin. No longer will people need to go only on the paved road [Artist Road/Hyde Park Road] to get up the mountain. The new trail is part of the Santa Fe Conservation Trust and is on 50 acres of Conservation Trust land that the organization is conveying to Santa Fe County. The new trail should be completed by the end of December 2011.

Native Indian Art in Santa Fe

Southwest Indian artwork is the most distinctive and the best-known of Native American artistic traditions. Southwest Indian designs are easily recognizable. Anyone who takes a Santa Fe vacation or weekend trip will immediately notice the large array of Native American pueblo art at many venues throughout the city. Santa Fe probably has the best selection of native art including jewelry than anywhere else in New Mexico. Most of the Native Indian art you see is made by the Pueblo Indians who are comprised of some nineteen tribes in New Mexico as well as the Hopi villages in neighboring Arizona.

Kachina

When you peruse the selection of Native American art items in front of the Palace of the Governors, you will see an excellent display of pueblo art work. The traditional products of the Pueblo Indians include pottery, basketry, cotton and wool textile weaving, moccasin making, drum making, painting, turquoise jewelry, bow and arrow making and cottonwood root carving.The fact is, most of these items you see today were at one time utilized in everyday living. What's also quite interesting is that each item of southwest Native American jewelry has a degree of historical significance. Information is still being learned every year as to the geographical origins ans spiritual meaning of much of what you now see displayed. Archeology digs continue in the American Southwest and I would expect more historical facts will be uncovered. There is still much to be learned of the ancient Anasazi who predated the pueblo Indian tribes of the Southwest.


A few very interesting and historical items you'll see a lot of while touring Santa Fe are kachina's and kokopelli's. The kachina, where there are more than 400 different ones in the Hopi and Pueblo culture, can represent anything in the natural world or cosmos. It can include a revered ancestor to an element, a location, a quality, a natural phenomenon, or a concept. The kachina theme is that there is something alive in absolutely every element of the universe. The kokopelli is another interesting piece of symbolic art work. The Kokopelli character is very prominent in the Anasazi culture  and found in a number of Native American cultures. The kokopelli figure represents a mischievous trickster or the minstrel, a spirit of music. The kokopelli is always seen in a dancing pose with a flute. His whimsical nature, charitable deeds, and strong spirit give him an important position in Native American mysticism. The kokopelli, for thousands of years, has been a very significant and sacred figure to Native Americans in the southwest. This was part of the culture of the Anasazi going back centuries.

Another often seen Pueblo Indian art item is the turquoise jewelry piece. Turquoise is a highly prized gemstone of great historical and cultural importance in the American Southwest. Turquoise is not found everywhere. This mineral deposit called Turquoise, is really found in a limited geographical area in the Southwestern U.S. Additionally, some amounts are found in western South America and a very limited amount can be found in Mexico.

Untreated turquoise

For sale and on display in Santa Fe is also a very good collection of silver jewelry.There have been many studies undertaken as to when the Navajo began producing silver art products. All seem to agree that a Native named Atsidi Sani, meaning Old Smith,  was the first Navajo silversmith. He is thought to have learned the blacksmith trade in the early 1850s and may have even worked with silver in the early 1860s. What is also known is that a full line of silver jewelry could be found throughout the navajo reservation during the 1880's. The early Navajo silver work comprised concha belts, bracelets, bow guards, tobacco flasks and necklaces. Later, items such as rings, earrings, pins, hair ornaments, buckles and bolos could be found. Turquoise was a very popular stone of the Navajo and appeared in Navajo silver jewelry around 1880. An interesting historical note regarding the Navajo was their often times strained relations with the Spanish, Mexican and American rulers in the present day New Mexico and Arizona region. At one time they were literally marched to Fort Sumner to the south and put on a reservation. There's an interesting story about Kit Carson's involvement in this expedition.

Hopi kokopelli

Native American pottery which includes Hopi pottery can be traced back some two thousand years. One thing which is still a subject of some debate is how it was discovered that you could form useful objects by heating clay to high temperatures. Some researchers think it happened independently whereas others contend that it made it's way to the Southwest from Mesoamerica (Mexico and Central America). Another rather simple theory floated was that the Native Americans saw that when lining their cooking baskets with clay they noticed that the clay would harden by the heat and create a hard surface. The Southwest Native Americans almost saw their pottery making go by the wayside after the white settlements in the Southwest grew. The trade routes including the railroad brought in glazed vessels and metal cookware. These products from the east almost flooded the market. Pueblo pottery however, while certainly having a utilitarian purpose, also had a spiritual meaning for the Pueblo peoples. This is similar to other art work items produced by southwest tribes. For these people, pottery has a spirit. It is a product of the Mother Earth and this is the basis of pueblo culture which again dates back to the Anasazi. So while pottery was produced and somewhat similar products from the east entered the region, the spiritual significance of Native American pottery remained in place to this very day. native American pottery could never be replaced.

Because Southwest Indian artwork is so highly popular there are a lot of fake knock-offs. When you're buying jewelry and other Native American  art be sure to check out the source thoroughly. There are many locations in Santa Fe that certainly do trade in genuine Native American produced products. As an example, the Native Americans who sell their hand made wares in front of the Palace of the Governors on the plaza are licensed vendors. The license is meant to assure that what is being sold there is the genuine thing.

The Shrine of El Sancturario de Chimayo

When you're visiting Santa Fe New Mexico, there is a very unique side trip which attracts people from all over the world. You would certainly find this enjoyable northern New Mexico side trip to definitely be a one of a kind and a visit not to be missed.


The photo at left is of the beautiful El Sanctuario de Chimayo located in the very scenic town of Chimayo New Mexico. It is a Roman Catholic church, a part of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and a shrine. The church is a National Historic Landmark.


This Catholic church and shrine is noted for the amazing story of it's founding. In the early 1800's the land where the shrine now stands belonged to Don Bernardo Abeyta who was one of the few original settlers in that area. In 1810, a relative, Fernando Abeyta, built a small chapel on the site named Christ of Esquipulas which was the name of a pilgrimage site in Guatemala.

There are a few different versions of events of how the site became world famous as a shrine. One is that Abeyta or a Spanish friar saw a shining bright light and proceeded to dig up a crucifix from where the light was emanating from. They gave the crucifix to Father Sebastian Alverez, a nearby parish priest, who took it to the Chimayo church. The story is that the crucifix strangely kept disappearing and then reappearing at the site where it was first discovered. This supposedly happened three times. It was at this point that all involved decided to build a chapel directly on this site to keep the crucifix.


Another version is that Abeyta was sick and saw a vision of his patron saint, San Esquipa, and when he went to where the saint appeared, and knelt in prayer, he was cured.


The third version of events says that the crucifix was brought to the area by a priest from Esquipulas along with the first Spanish settlers. The priest was reportedly killed by Indians and buried with the crucifix. The body and the crucifix were unearthed by floods in 1810 and local people dedicated the chapel and shrine to the Christ of Esquipulas. While no one knows for sure which event is accurate, the site has been called the "Lourdes of America" by many pilgrims. What is known as fact is that in 1813 Father Alverez sent a letter to the Episcopal See of Durango telling them of the healing going on at Sanctuario Chimayo. In this letter Father Alvarez chronicled some of the stories given to him by people traveling to the chapel to be healed.



There are two historic buildings on the site. One is the church El Sancturario de Chimayo and the other is what is called "el pocito" which is a pit of holy dirt which many people claim has miraculous curative powers. There are also many historic pieces of Spanish art within the chapel. I think you'll find a very good collection of New Mexican art there. Today you will find many visitors who take the soil as a curative for themselves or for people in need who are unable to make the journey to Chimayo. This practice has been going on for 200 years.


During Holy Week each year some 30,000 people travel to El Sancturario de Chimayo from all over the world. Some pilgrims are noted to walk all the way from Albuquerque to Sanctuario Chimayo each year, a distance of aboput 90 miles. If you are traveling the highways between Albuquerque and Santa Fe at that time of the year you will most likely see some of these pilgrims on their long journey. What started out as a remote holy site which was visited by the Indians, turned into a mecca for the Spaniards, the Mexicans after them and then to people from overseas.

The church property stayed in the Abeyta family for over a century until 1929 when the church and surrounding property was turned over to the Spanish Colonial Arts Society who then turned it over to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.

A visit to El Sancturario de Chimayo is an excellent addition to your New Mexico vacation planner. As you can see from the pictures, the chapel and grounds are beautiful and the ride from Santa Fe is a great picture taking opportunity.

To reach El Sancturario de Chimayo from Santa Fe go north on US Hwy 285 toward Espanola. Drive north about 20 miles and then turn right on County Road 88. Go about 3 miles and then turn right on NM 76 and you'll be in Chimayo. As you can see it's a fairly short drive and i might add quite a scenic one.

Best Day Hiking / Santa Fe's Hyde State Park

When you visit Santa Fe New Mexico you're going to have many fun and exciting things to do. To add a little bit of alpine experience to your Santa Fe vacation you might want to add this stop to your trip planner. 

One of the best short drives out of Santa Fe is to the Hyde State Memorial Park which is on the way to the Santa Fe Ski Basin. Avid skiers in the Santa Fe area know the park quite well. The drive to the park is only about eight to nine miles northeast from the center of Santa Fe via Hyde Park Road. From the Santa Fe plaza, drive north on Washington Ave. One block past the pink colored Scottish Rite Temple on your left, turn right on Artist road; the sign says that Hyde State Park and the Santa Fe Ski Basin are this way. Just continue up the road about seven miles. You'll pass a few residential areas on both sides of the road and then enter a curving, climbing and very scenic drive up to the park. Located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range the park is filled with evergreens and aspens. The Sangre de Cristo Mountains extend from Salida Colorado in the north down to a bit southeast of Santa Fe to the south. It's a beautiful mountain range and is mostly a National Forest.


Hyde State park is loaded with a variety of hiking trails and is a favorite of people who just want to get up in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains for a relaxing picnic in nature. It's closeness to Santa Fe makes it an easy side trip. Even if you're not in to hiking, a picnic at Hyde State Park is just the thing between visits to the art galleries and museums. The park is at an elevation of about 8,500 to 9,000 feet so you'll find the temperature perhaps 10 to 12 degrees cooler than down in Santa Fe. During the winter months there is plenty of snow and Hyde State Memorial Park has a few sledding slopes just behind the park ranger's station. During the winter you can also rent ski's if you're headed up to the Santa Fe Ski Basin or you can rent or buy sleds at the lodge building adjacent to the sledding slopes. There are also cross country skiing trails in the park. There is a Circle Trail which runs along the parameter of the park which can be used for winter snow shoeing. The Circle Trail also offers great views of the Sangre de Cristo, Jemez, Sandia and Ortiz mountains. 

The Circle Trail includes a lot of switchbacks and grades, some of which have loose gravel. While the views are magnificent, you may want to be sure to bring along your hiking boots and trekking poles. Often while on one of the Circle Trail's flat portions you might get the sense that you've reached the top only to find another incline ahead. Many people hike just a portion of the trail. Also, some people hike a portion and then return the next day to pick up where they left off.  There is another very popular hiking trail just beyond Hyde State Memorial Park a bit higher in the Sangre de Cristos in the Santa Fe National Forest. The trail is called Aspen Vista. It's a gradual uphill climb and the width of the road make it perfect for skiers of all abilities and ages. The road itself is closed to cars including snowmobiles. Begin the hike from Aspen Vista Picnic  Area, which is just past the 13 mile marker on the road. There is plenty of parking and picnic tables. There are also several side trails leading off the main trail. I've hiked this trail several times and it's got some great views. The distance is about 10 miles and the rating is difficult to moderate. One other interesting trail is Chamisa Trail.  This one is rated as an easy hike and is 4.75 miles round trip. It's also close to town being about six miles from the Santa Fe plaza. It runs through rolling terrain and meadows. The hike will take you through large stands of evergreen trees. To get to the Chamisa Trail, follow Hyde Park Rd. 5.6 miles to a wide canyon with two large parking areas on the south and north sides of the road. Park on the north side. All in all, the park and the National Forest, it's trails and it's natural beauty, is a great low cost and fun side trip for the entire family.


Campers will find more than fifty camping sites with a few offering electric hook ups. There are also three picnic shelters and a lodge which can be used for family or group gatherings for up to 150 people. During the winter months the lodge is used for equipment rentals. Hikers will find over four miles of trails at the Hyde State Park and several more in the adjoining Santa Fe National Forest.

Here is a web site for more information on Hyde State Memorial Park. 

(Photos from author's private collection)

Ride The New Mexico Rail Runner

The New Mexico's Rail Runner train offers visitors excellent and low cost options to see more of New Mexico. If you happen to be visiting the Albuquerque area, then the Rail Runner can get you up to Santa Fe and experience "The City Different" all in one day if you prefer. The same holds true if you're in Santa Fe and want to see the sights in Albuquerque. If you go to Albuquerque make sure to stop by Old Town filled with great restaurants and shops.

When stepping off the Rail Runner at the Albuquerque's Alvarado Transportation Center, visitor’s can ride the city’s bus system to get to many popular destinations around Albuquerque. As a great added benefit people may now use their Rail Runner tickets to ride the buses for free. 

The Rail Runner has been around New Mexico since 2006 operating between Belen, south of Albuquerque, to Bernalillo, to the north of Albuquerque. This modern rail service has been a great benefit for New Mexico transportation. The idea passenger rail serving the Central New Mexico north/south corridor had been talked about for many years, but it wasn’t until 2003 that the then Governor Richardson decided to have his administration make it a priority. Grants were given to the New Mexico Department of Transportation to get the ball rolling. The line was extended north to Santa Fe in December 2008. The way New Mexico's population is distributed made a very good case for the construction of the NM Rail Runner system. The central New Mexico corridor is home to about half the state's population. This includes Albuquerque, the largest city and economic center of New Mexico. Albuquerque and Santa Fe, the state capitol, is connected by Interstate-25. The Interstate which can get very congested runs fairly parallel to the  Rail Runner tracks. Because of the topography of the region, alternate two lane auto routes are much slower and longer. Another reality is that home prices in Santa Fe have consistently been higher than in Albuquerque so the Rail Runner allows people who work in Santa Fe to easily commute from their Albuquerque area homes. The Santa Fe Rail Runner train schedule has been designed for commuters but works very good for tourists as well.

The RailRunner (northernmost Santa Fe stop shown at right) really serves two purposes and both are important to New Mexico's economy. As stated above, it is an excellent comfortable commuter train with convenient schedules for workers going between Santa Fe and Albuquerque. The added benefit of course is that tourists to New Mexico can also take advantage of the Rail Runner. I think that even in the relatively short time the New Mexico Rail Runner has been serving Santa Fe, it's impact has been felt and in addition to allowing workers get to their jobs inexpensively, the train has brought many more people to events like Fiesta, Indian Market, Spanish Market, Zozobra and other art and cultural festivals. To check on the current New Mexico Rail Runner schedule and the train route map go to Rail Runner NM.

The End of the Santa Fe Trail Historic Marker

The Santa Fe Trail was one of the nations most heavily traveled early transportation routes.  William Becknell in 1821 struck out west from New Franklin Missouri with a load of cargo to trade his goods in Santa Fe. His thinking was that the Mexican revolt against the Spaniards created an opportunity. Mexican troops he met along the way confirmed his suspicions. Becknell left New Franklin a second time in 1822 with more traders in his company and the traffic grew with each successive year. The Santa Fe Trail opened trade between the U.S. and the Mexican government. Many towns located along the trail were established during this time such as Dodge City Kansas which grew further when the railroad arrived and made it a premiere frontier cattle shipping point. Likewise, military forts such as Fort Union in northeastern New Mexico, sprang up with the aim of adding a degree of security for settlers, travelers and freighters. For several years Fort Union was a base for the famed Buffalo Soldiers after the Civil War. 

The trail grew in it's significance and was used extensively by the military during the Civil War. While opening the southwest to trade, the route ran through what was referred to as "Comancheria", the open plains country of the Comanche Indians and traders  found it also profitable trading with the Comanche's along the route. The Comanche's also felt they should be given gifts for allowing the trail to cross their homeland. The Comanche's, who were considered superior warriors, were a big factor in the region just as Texas settlers found out further south. The Santa Fe Trail also opened up the southwest to massive emigration. This was further exemplified by the later Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad which did so much for the growth of Santa Fe and helping it become an artists community. The railroad brought travelers to this area of northern New Mexico along with Fred Harvey, the famous hospitality mogul, whose company operated the La Fonda Hotel for years.



When touring Santa Fe, you will want to note the plaque near the southeast corner of the plaza which commemorates the site of the very end of the Santa Fe Trail. Across the street from the marker is the historic La Fonda Hotel which was once a Harvey House hotel and also marks the end of the Trail.


  

A Visit To Georgia O'Keefe and Ghost Ranch

Santa Fe is considered the oldest settlement in the U.S. dating back to the 1600's when it was established by the Spaniards. St. Francis of Assissi, which is a Catholic basilica and located one block east of the plaza in Santa Fe, is over 400 years old. As you may already know, Santa Fe is a fine tourist destination for people from all over the world. In the summer months it's mild and dry climate is a refuge from the hot humid conditions in the south and mid west and in winter the skiers come in large numbers. If you have the opportunity of vacationing in Santa Fe or on a trip to Taos there is an excellent day trip with a lot of great photo opportunities.

Pictured  below left is Georgia O'Keeffe an American artist of great fame who called northern New Mexico home during much of her later life.

Briefly, O'Keeffe's early story was that she took up art in pursuit of making an independent career out of it but became disillusioned with the chances of becoming successful. This was around 1908 and she simply decided to take a job in Chicago as a commercial artist. She was from Wisconsin. Several years later she again had the urge to strike out in hopes of becoming successful as an independent artist...not liking the routine of being employed by someone else in the commercial world. This happened after she spent time at a University of Virginia summer school and met the artist Arthur Wesley Dow. He was considered an innovative artist and Georgia O'Keefe like his ideas.This was the period where she began her various teaching endeavors.


Shortly after this, some of O'Keeffe's charcoal drawings came to the attention of a few New Yorker's who brought these to the attention of Alfred Stieglitz who had a New York gallery. Stieglitz asked her to move to New York and continue her art work there. She did and they eventually married after his divorce. Stieglitz eventually made several hundred photographs of O'Keeffe during their time together and worked setting up many exhibitions of her work.


1929 was the year Georgia O'Keeffe started coming to New Mexico spending time in both Santa Fe and Taos. She began to preferred this over her then usual upstate New York summers.She found inspiration in the surroundings. If you have the chance to visit the Santa Fe/Taos area you will see the natural beauty and colors of the land which would probably inspire most artists. In fact it does and the this area of New Mexico is a mecca for the art world. O'Keeffe was considered by many to be a loner and went on her own to explore many areas in northern New Mexico in her Ford Model A.

Georgia O'Keeffe 1918

O'Keeffe went on to establish herself as a popular artist.She also did some work for the Dole company in Hawaii in 1939. She was honored and inducted into several organizations in later life. In 1962 she was elected to the fifty member American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 1966 she was elected a Fellow to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. There were several other honors bestowed her in the art world. She died in 1986 in Santa Fe at the age of 98.


Georgia O'Keeffe spent many years in a town with the name Abiquiu. It's located about a 45 minutes to one hour drive north of Santa Fe and in some very picturesque country. Makes a perfect low cost day trip during your New Mexico vacation. In Abiquiu you want to stop and see her house which is up a short winding road right off the main highway. You will also want to visit Ghost Ranch which O'Keeffe  spent summers at which is just a short drive north of Abiquiu. Add the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum to your trip planner while in Santa Fe. It's located just a few blocks west of the Santa Fe plaza. For dozens of western U.S. trip ideas and historic sites please visit Western Trips.