The main facility of the Museum of New Mexico is El Palacio. The Palace
of the Governors, on the plaza in the heart of Santa Fe, is the oldest
public building in the United States. Built in 1610, it was the seat of
Spanish government in New Mexico until 1821, of the Mexican government
until 1846, and the residence of the governors appointed by the
President of the United States until 1910, when it became a unit of the
Museum of New Mexico.
It presently contains exhibits relating to New Mexico’s past, ranging
from the Indians, who arrived after crossing the Bering Sea, to the
Spanish, who came seeking gold and glory on horseback, to the wagon
trains from the east, whose goal was the end of the Santa Fe Trail,
which is directly in front of El Palacio.
El Palacio was the capitol of New Mexico for 300 years and was the seat
of residence for more than one hundred of New Mexico’s governors. During
that time it was captured and held by the Indians from 1680 to 1692. The
Army of the Confederacy captured it for a few days during the Civil War,
and one of its occupants, Territorial Governor Lew. Wallace, wrote his
famous novel, _Ben Hur_, within its walls.
There are other fascinating units connected with the Museum of New
Mexico in Santa Fe. Among these are the Fine Arts Museum, emphasizing
the art and artists of the great Southwest; the International Folk Art
Museum; and the Hall of Ethnology, devoted primarily to the peoples of
the Southwest.