12/20/21 - Walking Tour of Santa Fe

12/20/21 - I was to start my walking tour at the Santa Fe train depot but passed this on the way.

It is a 1941 Dodge ½ ton pick-up. While not an original Santa Fe Builders Supply (SANBUSCO) delivery truck, it is typical of the many used by SANBUSCO to make lumber and building supply delivers around Northern New Mexico during the 1940s. Trucks like this were similar to those used to secretly deliver materials arriving by train for the building of the Atomic Bomb at Los Alamos during the last two years of World War II.

12/20/21 - Santa Fe train depot.

The depot proper was the namesake station of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (ATSF) starting February 9, 1880 and for most of the twentieth century. The depot is the northern terminus of a former ATSF spur line running from Santa Fe to Lamy, 18 miles to the south.

The ATSF ceased offering passenger train service to Santa Fe with the advent of the Interstate Highway System and replaced it with a motorcoach connection.

Scheduled passenger rail was restored as a tourist operation with the Santa Fe Southern Railway's purchase of the freight-only Santa Fe spur, including the depot, in the early 1990s.

12/20/21 - Rail Runner at the Santa Fe train depot

The concept of passenger rail serving the Central New Mexico corridor had been discussed for decades, but it wasn't until August 2003 that a serious effort got underway.

In 2005, a name and a branding scheme was chosen. The name “Rail Runner” is a play on the name of New Mexico's state bird, the roadrunner. The cars and locomotives were received throughout the year of 2005 and groundbreaking for the first Rail Runner station took place on October 31, 2005.

The Rail Runner officially went into service on July 14, 2006, serving the Downtown Albuquerque and several other cities, but it wasn't until December 17, 2008 the extension of the line to Santa Fe opened

12/20/21 - Front of the Santa Fe train depot.

12/20/21 - Wire statue across the street from the Santa Fe train depot

12/20/21 - Picture on fence as I start my walk from the Santa Fe train depot

12/20/21 - Santuario de Guadalupe

From the train depot I headed to the Santuario de Guadalupe. This is one of the oldest churches in Santa Fe, built in 1776 - 1795. Today the building is an art and history museum.

12/20/21 - Santuario de Guadalupe.

This is one of the oldest churches in Santa Fe, built in 1776 - 1795. Today the building is an art and history museum.

12/20/21 - Santuario de Guadalupe

12/20/21 - Santuario de Guadalupe

12/20/21 - The plaque says, "This crucifix is a replica of the crozier (pastoral staff) of Pope John Paul II, now often used by Pope Benedict XVI. The original was made by Gib Singleton.

12/20/21 - Santuario de Guadalupe

Man praying at cruicifix

12/20/21 - Santuario de Guadalupe

Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patron said of New Mexico. Santuario de Guadalupe is in the background.

12/20/21 - Santuario de Guadalupe

Susan with the Santuario de Guadalupe is in the background

12/20/21 - As I was heading to the next stop on the walking tour I saw this

12/20/21 - Seret & Sons

This was not listed on the walking tour but as I passed it I couldn't help but be fascinated by all that lies behind the gate. I thought to myself...if only I could hear the voices of all those wonderful and interesting items, what stories they would tell.

12/20/21 - Seret & Sons

The Serets passion for design incorporating architectural elements from the east led to a new shop location in 1989. An empty lot on Galisteo Street became a two story Alhambra style gallery, designed to resemble an ancient market center. Unfortunately I didn't go into the shop, only looked at the items in the lot.

The Seret & Sons compound of buildings and outdoor areas now fills most of the block at the corner of Galisteo and West Alameda. Today, Seret & Sons 70,000+ square foot gallery houses furnishings and architectural antiques from a dozen countries. The store is known for its extensive collection of rugs from Central Asia and beyond- gabbehs, dhurries, kazaks, and kilims as well as a world class collection of antique rugs assembled by Ira Seret over his long career as a collector.

Gorgeous antique furnishings from Tibet, India, and Peru also abound the Seret collection of Tibetan furnishings is the largest in the world.

Behind the main store building is an expansive outdoor yard, where columns, doors, and wrought iron work, both old and new, mingle in a labyrinth of inspiration. Visitors and home decorators are treated to an ever-changing visual feast of inspiring materials. The pictures here are from this yard.

12/20/21 - Seret & Sons

Cart outside the Seret & Sons compound

12/20/21 - Seret & Sons

As a side note, in 1998, the Imagineers of Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando called on Seret & Sons to supply the new theme park with authentic, one-of-a-kind architectural elements, such as carved marble pavilions and fountains, antique wood columns, windows, doors, and more.

They also commissioned the Serets to replicate one of the intricately painted trucks seen carrying cargo in modern Afghanistan and Pakistan. Working for three months with local artists, the Serets painted and decorated a specially designed vehicle to be placed in the middle of Animal Kingdom. Ten years later it remains a unique feature in the Park.

In 2007 Seret & Sons designers again collaborated with Disney's Imagineers and Steven Schussler, founder of the Rainforest Cafe, to create the Himalayan-themed restaurant "The Yak & Yeti", the largest sit-down restaurant in the Animal Kingdom park. For the Yak & Yeti Seret & Sons designed and handcrafted highly detailed work for the restaurant's interior and exterior, including architectural millwork, doors, columns, a stone inlaid bar, stair cases adorned with carved railings, mosaic floors, ceilings, inlaid mosaic and carved furniture, props and retail fixtures.

12/20/21 - Seret & Sons

Look at these wonderful and intricate doors and windows at the Seret & Sons compound

12/20/21 - You see lots of colorful and whimsical sculptures around Santa Fe

12/20/21 - The Lensic Theater

This is the next stop on my tour, This is one of the best known of the hundreds of theaters designed by the Boller Brothers. This Moorish-Spanish styled theater opened in 1931. The contractor for the project used the initials of his six grandchildren to come up with the name for the theater.

12/20/21 - The Lensic Theater

The Lensic began to decline and deteriorate in the 1990s. In 2001, a non-profit secured funds to restore and renovate the theater. Fortunately, the unique ornamental details on the outside were lovingly restored and the theater has once again become the primary performance venue in Santa Fe.

12/20/21 - Shopping across the street from the Lensic Theater

12/20/21 - Shopping across the street from the Lensic Theater

12/20/21 - Shopping across the street from the Lensic Theater

12/20/21 - The Santa Fe Plaza

The next stop on my tour is the Santa Fe Plaza. It is not only the 'heart of Santa Fe" but also some of the oldest history in New Mexico and the US. It has existed since the city was founded in 1610.

12/20/21 - The Santa Fe Plaza

During the early 1800s, the Santa Fe Plaza was the terminus of the famed Santa Fe Trail.

12/20/21 - The Santa Fe Plaza

I thought these red peppers were part of the Christmas decorations but my brother, who was here in April, said they peppers were hanging then. So, I guess it is just a symbol of New Mexico and not Christmas decorations.

12/20/21 - Fort Marcy Officers Residence.

During the mid to late 1800s, the US Army maintained two military bases in Santa Fe. Of the six adobe buildings constructed as housing for the officers and their families, this is the final building remaining.

In 1846, Fort Marcy military post was established in Santa Fe. Many buildings were constructed during this time to house officers and conduct business. The buildings were used until the abandonment of Fort Marcy in 1894.

In 1916, the former officer's quarters was purchased by the Museum of New Mexico and modified to match the prevailing Spanish-Pueblo Indian architecture that was prevalent on the Santa Fe Plaza. The building served as both a museum and residence until the 1960s. Today the building is used as one of the commercial shopping sites on the Plaza. But, underneath the current facade is an intact 1870s period military barracks,

12/20/21 - Palace of the Governors.

This is the oldest continuously occupied public building in the US.

The adobe structure, with its five-foot thick walls, was built in 1610 and served as the seat of government for New Mexico for three centuries.

12/20/21 - Palace of the Governors.

In 1909 the New Mexico territory government offices were moved elsewhere and the legislature created the Museum of New Mexico here.

12/20/21 - New Mexico Museum of Art

This is the oldest art museum in the state of New Mexico. This Pueblo Revival Style building was build in 1917.

12/20/21 - New Mexico Museum of Art

12/20/21 - New Mexico Museum of Art

The sidewalk outside the museum has many such plaques as this one

12/20/21 - Delgado House

This is an example of local adobe construction that was modified by some of the more ornate architectural details commonly seen in the late 19-century home.

The home was built in 1890 and is an unusual home for the Santa Fe area as it has a second-story wood balcony and a full stone basement.

Delgado was a prosperous merchant, running mule trains over the Santa Fe Trail.

The home remained in the Delgado family until 1970 and today belongs to the Historic Santa Fe Foundation, responsible for preserving and protecting historic structures.

12/20/21 - This building was across the street from the Delgado House. I couldn't find any information on it so it probably isn't historic. But, it was pretty, all decked out for Christmas.

12/20/21 - Sculpture across the street from the Delgado House

12/20/21 - Sculpture across the street from the Delgado House

12/20/21 - The Tully House

After the Delgado House I wander on to the Tully House. This large, ten-room house, built in 1851, is one of the finest examples of New Mexico Territorial style architecture found in Santa Fe.

The home is unique for the Santa Fe area as the exterior, while simulating the adobe style, is actually made of red brick and painted.

The house was purchased in 1972 by The Historic Santa Fe Foundation and completely restored in the 1980s.

12/20/21 - The Bergere House

Almost next door is the Bergere house which was built in 1870. It was built originally as officer's quarters for the Fort Marcy military reservation. After the military abandoned it, the Bergere family occupied the home.

It is significant as it is where US President Ulysses S Grand and his wife, Julia, stayed during an extended visit to Santa Fe in 1880.

The home was completely renovated in the 1990s and is now the Georgia O'Keefe Museum Research Center.

12/20/21 - There are many statues in Santa Fe. This is one I saw on my way to the Tully and Bergere homes.

12/20/21 - There are many statues in Santa Fe. This is one I saw while on my way to the Tully and Bergere homes.

12/20/21 - First Presbyterian Church

In 1866, Jennie Mitchell, wife of New Mexico Territorial Governor, wrote to the Board of Missions of the Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, and begged that a minister of the Presbyterian faith be sent into, as she said, "this area of degradation and ignorance." Thus, the oldest Protestant church was founded.

By the end of 1866 the first worship service was held in the Palace of the Governors. It wasn't until 1881 this building was built.

12/20/21 - First Presbyterian Church

12/20/21 - Santa Fe City Hall

Although I didn't take any pictures of the city hall, I found this next to it. I had to look it up as there was nothing telling me what it was.

This whimsical sculpture consists of a serpentine line of 27 identical granite "Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout" heads emerging from finely-crushed gravel. It's called "Santa Fe Current" and was sculpted by Colette Hosmer.

12/20/21 - Santa Fe City Hall

As I mentioned, I didn't take any pictures of city hall but this sculpture was impressive.

The sculpture is of Leroy Arthur Petry, born July 29, 1979 in Santa Fe. He received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in Afghanistan in 2008 during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Petry joined the Army after high school. Completing the Ranger Indoctrination Program, he was deployed several times to both Iraq and Afghanistan as a member of the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. On May 26, 2008, during his seventh deployment, Petry was a member of a team on a mission to capture a Taliban target in Paktia Province. Despite being wounded in both legs by gunfire, Petry continued to fight and give orders. When a grenade landed between him and two other soldiers, Petry grabbed it and attempted to throw it away from them. He saved the soldiers' lives but the grenade exploded, severing his right hand.

Petry became the second recent living recipient of the medal for the war in Afghanistan in 2011 when he received the award from U.S. President Barack Obama. Opting to reenlist in spite of his injury, Petry remained on active duty in the U.S. Army until his retirement on July 29, 2014.