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Segway Santa Fe Plaza Tour

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A Brief History of Santa Fe, New Mexico
The Story of Many Peoples

Santa Fe is New Mexico's state capital and the oldest capital city in the United States. But long before Spanish colonization and statehood, prehistoric man lived here. Since then, the area has been home to many different civilizations and cultures. Today, visitors to Santa Fe will see a city heavily influenced by the history of three distinct cultures; Native American, Hispanic and Anglo-Saxon.

The Spanish arrived in New Mexico in 1598 under the leadership of Don Juan de Oñate, a Spanish explorer. In 1607, the Spanish settled in Santa Fe, "the City of Holy Faith", in an effort to convert the indigenous people to Catholicism.

St. Francis Cathedral - Santa Fe No downtown building may rise higher than the bell towers of the St. Francis Cathedral (pictured), This restriction makes the cathedral a dominant feature of the Plaza area.

In 1610, the city officially became the capital of New Mexico, and the New Mexico Territory became a state in 1912. One of Santa Fe's most prominent features is the downtown Plaza, near the end of the legendary Santa Fe Trail, the pioneer trail starting in Missouri. For centuries people have met at this location to trade news, buy and sell goods and have community celebrations.

On the north side of the Plaza is the Palace of the Governors, built in 1610. It is the state's history museum, one of the many museums in the city. Also located downtown are the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum and the Institute of American Indian Arts Museum. Also near the Plaza are the Loretto Chapel, and St. Francis Cathedral, completed in 1884.

Other Articles of Interest

Introduction to Santa Fe by Dr. Jack Copeland
Dr. Copeland, former owner of Copeland-Rutherford Gallery, has been visiting Santa Fe for decades and now makes his home here.

The City Different by John Pen LaFarge
This feature was written exclusively for Santa Fe Information by prominent Santa Fe historian, John Pen Lafarge.

Founded in 1607-1610 by Don Pedro de Peralta of Spain, La Villa de Santa Fe (The City of Holy Faith ) is the oldest capital city in the United States. In 1680, Pueblo Indians revolted under the leadership of Taos Pueblo chief Pope, and drove the Spanish south to what is current day El Paso. Twelve years later, in 1692, Don Diego de Vargas recaptured Santa Fe for Spain, with a newfound respect for the Pueblo peoples. This peaceful reconquest is celebrated each September in a community event known as Fiestas de Santa Fe. Begun in 1712, it represents the oldest continually observed community celebration in the United States. Unique secular and religious events characterize La Fiestas, from the colorful pagan ritual burning of Zozobra (Old Man Gloom ) to the reverent candlelight procession of the closing ceremony at the Cross of the Martyrs.

Four flags have flown over the city of Santa Fe: Spanish, Mexican, Confederate, and United States. Mexico seceded from Spain in 1821, putting Santa Fe under Mexican rule. The year 1821 was also important, because in that year the Santa Fe Trail was opened by William Becknell, allowing trade with the northeastern United States for the first time in New Mexico's history. In 1846, the US Army of the West claimed Santa Fe in the US-Mexican War, under the leadership of General Stephen Watts Kearny. Kearny's administrative residence was established as Fort Marcy. In 1848, the Treaty of Hidalgo formally ceded New Mexico to the United States. It was to remain a US territory until 1912, when New Mexico became the 47th state of the Union. For a brief time during the Civil War, in the early Spring of 1862, the Confederate flag flew over Santa Fe until Union forces reclaimed New Mexico in the Battle of Glorieta.

This thumbnail sketch of New Mexican history underscores the dominant tricultural makeup of the region. Native American cultures form the foundation. As author Frank Waters has observed, "we are slowly inclining to the Indian belief that nature is not inanimate, but imbued with one common life force...in an indivisible unity of biological and spiritual ecology." Pueblo, Navajo, and Apache influences in agriculture, architecture, culinary arts, jewelry, pottery, and weaving are abundant. The Spanish influence is equally powerful, from the design of its cities ( built around central plazas ), to its mission churches, and to its quiet pastoral villages. With the advent of the Santa Fe Trail, and later the railroad, Anglo-Saxon cultural influences would profoundly alter the mix in the 19th and 20th centuries. These influences ranged from mercantilism to artists' colonies to the birth of the atomic age.

The exotic Native American and Spanish cultures of New Mexico, combined with the magical quality of its light and the salutary nature of its air gave rise to artists colonies in both Santa Fe and Taos in the early 20th century. Mabel Dodge Luhan's Taos salon attracted artistic and literary luminaries including D.H. Lawrence, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Ansel Adams, to name just a few. These artistic and literary traditions flourish today, and Santa Fe has become this country's third largest art market, trailing only New York and Los Angeles in dollar volume art sales. In 1957, John Crosby founded the Santa Fe opera. The New Buffalo Commune, one of the first hippie communes in the country, was founded in Taos in 1967. More recently established institutions such as the Santa Fe Institute, Site Santa Fe, and the Institute of American Indian Art provide cutting edge, often iconoclastic thinking, in science, art, and education.

To conclude, there is a dramatic dialogue here between Mother Earth and Father Sky. Its language is visual, in the form of double rainbows and surreal sunsets. Its language is olfactory, with ever-present piñon and cedar scents, musky autumn chamisa, and fragrant spring lilac. And its language is auditory, with whispering soft breezes, booming thunder, and the sweet silence of a snowfall. So eavesdrop on this conversation, and enjoy. See the azure blue sky that inspired Willa Cather, feel the proud morning sun that D.H. Lawrence felt, and walk the earth that has sustained Native American potters for centuries. Within an hours' drive of Santa Fe, one can visit ancient Pueblo ruins or explore the birth of the atomic age. Indulge your senses with scores of quality galleries, museums, restaurants, and musical venues. And before you retire each evening, gaze upon the Milky Way and recover a sense of newfound adventure and mystery.

Two mysteries surround the spiral staircase in the Loretto Chapel:
The identity of its builder and the physics of its construction.

When the Loretto Chapel was completed in 1878, there was no way to access the choir loft twenty-two feet above. Carpenters were called in to address the problem, but they all concluded access to the loft would have to be via ladder as a staircase would interfere with the interior space of the small Chapel. More

Santa Fe has long been considered an art mecca. In addition to the world-famous Indian and Spanish Markets, and galleries, Santa Fe has a tradition of attracting premier artists to live in and near the city. This tradition includes Georgia O'Keeffe, R.C. Gorman, Allan Houser and Amy Stein.

Shiprock Trading Post was founded in 1894 in Shiprock, New Mexico. In early 2006, they opened their third location on the corner of Old Santa Fe Trail and Palace Avenue on the Norteast corner of the historic Santa Fe Plaza. Shiprock Trading Post hosts an eclectic collection of Native American fine art, furniture, tapestries, pottery and much more.

More Native American art can be found along the portico of the Palace of the Governors on the Plaza; part of the view seen by our Plaza Cam mounted outside Shiprock Trading Post.

Handmade and traditionally-fired, "S-Swirl" Pot by noted Santa Clara potter, Nancy Youngblood Lugo

Stop in at the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum and view the largest collection of original O'Keeffe works in the world. After viewing the museum, take the short trip to Abiquiu and see for yourself the landscape that inspired this artist.

No tour of Santa Fe art would be complete without a stroll up the famous Canyon Road, rich with more than 100 studios and galleries.

Other highlights include the Museum of Fine Arts and the Shidoni Foundry, just five miles out of town. Shidoni features a gallery and sculpture garden as well as bronze pours for the public.

<< The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

In 1598, Franciscan Friars entered what is now New Mexico. These priests accompanied the Spanish colonists, who had migrated north from Mexico City.

The City of Santa Fe was founded in 1610. That same year the first church was built on this site. The original adobe church was replaced in 1630 by a larger one, which was destroyed by the Pueblo Indian Revolt of 1680.

The expelled Spaniards returned in 1693, but were not able to rebuild the church until 1714. This new church was named in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Santa Fe.

The only part of this church still existing is the small adobe chapel dedicated to Our Lady La Conquistadora. Brought from Spain in 1625, the statue is the oldest representation of the Virgin Mary in the United States.

El Centro de Santa Fe >>

A Special Collection of Shops & Galleries in the Heart of Historic Santa Fe.

Kiva Fine Arts ° Joe Wade Fine Art ° Arlene Siegel Gallery ° The Golden Web ° Ventana el Centro

The Cultural Aspects of Santa Fe, New Mexico
Where Traditions Blend

It happens all the time. The unenlightened think New Mexico is not in the United States. Out-of-state clerks try to charge for international shipping. Checks are returned because a company does not accept "foreign" funds. People in other states comment on how well you speak English... Perhaps part of the confusion is caused because people secretly want to hold on to the romantic visions Old West - the new territory populated by the Native people, the Spanish explorers, the Mexican settlers and rough-and-tumble cowboys. New Mexico, with it's rugged landscape and colorful mix of inhabitants, makes it easy for people to see those visions. And where in New Mexico is it easier to slip into the past than in Santa Fe?

The Mexicans and Spanish entered Santa Fe from the South on El Camino Real, or the Royal Road. Anglo-Saxon miners and trappers trekked to Santa Fe from the North via the Santa Fe Trail. The Native American were already here. Elements from each of the cultures influence everyday life in Santa Fe, from the obvious such as food, celebrations and traditions to the more subtle such as the overall feel of the city.

For those who wish to take a closer look at the Native American culture, there are several Native American Pueblos scattered around the Santa Fe area, all of which make for a beautiful and educational day trip Native Americans sell their wares on the Santa Fe Plaza.

The pueblos include Santa Clara Pueblo, which is the site of the ancient Puye Cliff Dwellings, and 1,000-year-old Taos Pueblo. About 45 miles west of Santa Fe, at Bandelier National Monument, you can tour ancient Anasazi Cliff Dwellings. Two of the most popular events during the summer in Santa Fe are Indian Market and Spanish Market.

Indian Market is the world's largest show of Native American art. More than one thousand artists exhibit all aspects of Native American art, including paintings, pottery, jewelry and more. Spanish Market features some of the area's finest craftspeople exhibiting and selling traditional Spanish Colonial arts and modern Spanish-influenced art.

The New Mexico History Museum, opened in May 2009. The new museum includes permanent and temporary exhibitions that span the early history of indigenous people, Spanish colonization, the Mexican Period, and travel and commerce on the legendary Santa Fe Trail.

The museum serves as the anchor of a campus that encompasses the Palace of the Governors, the Palace Press, the Fray Angelico Chavez History Library and Photo Archives.

The Segway Training for this tour begins in a wonderful park located on the Cross streets of
E. Marcy and Paseo De Peralta.

You can visit Google Maps for pictures of this location
318 E. Marcy, Santa fe, NM 87501

Segway Tours of Santa Fe Plaza start at $75 per person and are available every day with 24 hours notice.

Segway Tours are 1.5 hours long including training.

Kids are great at Segway riding and are welcome!

Night Time Twinkle Light Tours in December!

(Call for Details or see Twinkle Light Tours on this website)

Checkout Instructions:

You must Register on this Website and login on your account before you can reserve a tour.

(This only takes a minute and will help us reserve the date and time requested for you.)

Select the number of people in your party below in the right hand corner of this page. After you have chosen the correct amount of Segway riders in your party, select the date and time you would like to take a tour from the menu below.

During the final payment process you will be able to put a request for a special start time in the comment section provided if you would like a different start time than whats listed on the page. We may be able to adjust the time depending on the number of people on your tour and the number of riders in your group.

We will email or call you with a confirmation of the requested date and time of your Segway Tour.

You must call or email us to cancel your tour at least 12 hours in advance to prevent your card from being charged. All riders that are 18 years of age or older MUST bring identification with them and agree to sign a waiver prior to riding the Segway. All riders under 18 must have their parent or guardian present and agree to sign a waiver for them.

All riders must wear shoes and a helmet, one will be provided or you can use your own. No sandal's or open toe shoes while riding the Segway PT. Shorts, ball caps, sunscreen, and a bottle of water is recommended in the Summer.

You must "checkout" completely by going through the short billing process in order for your reservations to be made.

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