Santa Fe gets set to kick off 400th anniversary celebrations
The people of Santa Fe have been working long and hard to capture the city’s spirit, imagination and pride in advance of the commemoration of Santa Fe’s 400th Anniversary. As the oldest European settlement west of the Mississippi, they have extensive ground to cover prior to this milestone. Wonderful plans have already taken shape and much more is in process to mark the founding of one of America’s most historic and vibrant cities.
Starting in 2008 plans call for a kickoff gala, Santa Fe – El Corazon de Nuevo Mexico (the Heart of New Mexico). Throughout that year, anniversary functions will be held in conjunction with some of Santa Fe’s signature events such as Indian Market, Spanish Market, and Santa Fe Fiesta.
March 1609 will be recognized as the date the Viceroy ordered the settling of the city during an event on March 30, 2009. Then, everyone will be invited to Santa Fe from Memorial Day, 2010 through the Santa Fe Fiesta during the week after Labor Day to commemorate the 400th Anniversary.
Yet, the founding date for Santa Fe has been questioned since some detail was lost to time after 400 years. In search of a true date for Santa Fe’s 400th Anniversary, city and state historians were asked to determine when exactly America’s second oldest city sprang to life.
North America had been visited by explorers more than 400 years ago but 1607 was the start of a land rush to settle the New World. The founding of Jamestown by the British in 1607 was quickly followed by the French establishing Quebec in 1608 and the Spanish settling Santa Fe in 1609.
Some put forth 1608 as the time Spanish Conquistadors relocated from farther north in the region to what would become La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco de Asis. Former New Mexico State Historian Tom Chavez uncovered documents in Spain indicating a European settlement near Santa Fe existed as early as 1607. Of course, Native Americans made the area home for thousands of years prior, but the Spanish Viceroy gave orders to Don Pedro de Peralta in 1609 to settle the villa. Then there is the date “1610” on the city’s seal, the date of the city charter.
Discussions of a founding date lingered even as plans progressed for the commemoration. Finally, in the genuine spirit of “The City Different,” it was determined that some initial events would be planned for 2008, a founding day event would take place in 2009, and the big party would be thrown in 2010.
In a town that cherishes its history and has implemented rules, covenants, and review boards aimed at preserving as many authentic links to the past as possible, it may take 3 years to cover all that needs to be remembered and recognized from the last 400.
Courtesyof grouptravelblog.com
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