Santa Fe is the capital of New Mexico and is the fourth largest city in the state. It is a world renowned travel destination that is rich in history, arts and culture. The city is nestled in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and is known for its warm summers and mild winters.
Santa Fe has a long history and is the site of the oldest public building in America, the Palace of the Governors. It also has the oldest community celebration in the nation called the Santa Fe Fiesta. This celebration was started in 1712 to commemorate the Spanish reconquest of New Mexico.
This city is rich in Hispanic and Native American culture. The cultural diversity makes this a place where you can experience scenic beauty and rich arts, music and fine dining. Since this is a prime tourist destination it is easy to get here. There are flights in and out of Santa Fe daily and is on Amtrak's major southwest route. You can get here by car and there are a variety of hotels accommodations available.
The downtown area is small but vibrant and is easily walkable. It has a central square that is a gathering place for all types of people and entertainment. There are plenty of interesting museums in the area. The Palace of the Governors is a fascinating museum which is in a historic 17th century building. This site is a Registered National Historic Landmark and inside there is a massive museum collection spanning the history of Santa Fe and the Southwest.
Outside of this museum Native Americans show off their arts and crafts. You can browse through the jewelry, pottery, and kachinas which are spread out on blankets for visitors to admire and purchase.
The Institute of American Indian Arts Museum is located in the downtown area across from the St Francis Cathedral. This is one of the only museums in the world that highlights contemporary Native American arts. In May of each year you can see the works of students who are graduating from the institute. They are put on display for everyone's enjoyment.
The Museum of Fine Arts is housed in a pueblo revival style building and has been open since 1917. This is home to many permanent as well as traveling exhibitions. There are over 20,000 works of art on display. The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum is where you can see contemporary art and modernism of world renowned artist Georgia O'Keeffe and other established artists. The works that are on display here change twice a year so there is always something new and exciting to see.
The Mountain Trails Gallery is a unique gallery in that it only represents a small number of elite artists. Each piece of art is individually displayed to make each artist's work stand out. You can admire and purchase art work from artists who include Vic Payne, Marilyn Bendell and Larry Riley.
If you are a lover of the arts or a collector, Santa Fe is the place to visit to see all types of arts and crafts. You will be able to find something here that everyone will enjoy visiting and learning about the Southwest culture.
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