England's Gift to Santa Fe

History in Santa Fe

Back in 1930 while studying at Oxford University, an unknown Santa Fean came across an old 1776 map by José de Urruitia of La Villa Real de la Santa Fe. The map had most likely been sold to the university at one time or another, and fortunately, Oxford graciously gave a copy of the map to New Mexico once it was discovered. To this day, the ancient map is of historic value because it provides a blueprint of the 17th century building laws of Spain brought to the new world. The document shows that as early as 1607 city planners put in place a quadrangular Plaza de Armas, with four main gates into Las Casas Reales, which is now the Palace of the Governors. Up from the two main squares, la iglesia parroquial, now called the Basilica Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi can be found on the map. Around 1717, San Francisco de Asís was named the patron saint of the city, whose statue can be found outside of City Hall, created by the late sculptor Andrea Bacigalupa.

Across the Santa Fe River the San Miguel Mission was once used as a hospital run by Franciscan missionaries. All the founders-settlers were given suitable areas for home and gardens, communal lands and pastures. Behind the casas reales was El Presidio de la Santa Cruz, the large military barracks and horse corrals. Located across from the Palacio de los Gobernadores was la castrense, the military chapel, whose stone-carved reredos (altar screen) currently resides at Cristo Rey church.

These are but a few of the details found on this ancient map, which thanks to a detailed Spanish cartographer helped to preserve Santa Fe’s early history.

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