Historic places in Santa Fe

60 historic buildings, sites and memorials in Santa Fe.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 60.

Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)

SeeHistoric building
San Miguel Mission
Thought to be the oldest surviving mission church in the United States, the San Miguel is a rather simple but lovely adobe structure. Behind the mission, along the narrow alleyway, is a small structure whose owners claim it to be the "oldest house in the U.S." built by Europeans; a claim which though inaccurate reflects the long history of the site.
Sun 1PM-4:30PM, Summer Mon-Sat 9AM-4:30PM, Winter Mon-Sat 10AM-4PM$1
SeeHistory museum
Palace of the Governors / New Mexico History Museum
The oldest public building in the United States, the Palace of the Governors is a 17th-century building that once served as the main capitol building and now houses an excellent historical museum and shop, with exhibits on the history of the building and a functioning antique print press. Behind the Palace is the New Mexico History Museum, with three floors of exhibits on the history of New Mexico, including numerous artifacts from the prehistory to the present. While the Palace is being renovated (as of 2022), disruptions are minimal most days and exhibits are displaced but available. Local Native American artists sell their work beneath the portal (covered facade) facing the Plaza. They are awarded a spot via an official lottery system.
Daily 10AM-5PM, closed Mon Nov-Apr (open Fridays 5-7PM May-Oct and first Fri of each month Nov-Apr), Memorial Day-Labor Day$12 adults, youth 16 and under free, youth/resident discounts; free Friday after 5PM; discount pass for Museum of New Mexico applies · Built 1610
SeeCathedral
St. Francis Cathedral
One of the "must-see" places in town, with an impressive interior and beautiful art both inside and out. A tip for the photographer: the main façade faces west, so photographing the exterior (including several striking sculptures out front) tends to be most rewarding, atypically for Santa Fe, in the middle of the day, particularly the afternoon.
Free; donation · Built 1887
SeeArt museum
Museum of Indian Arts & Culture
A large museum with American Indian artworks and exhibits on their culture and history, including a rather superb collection of pottery and displays of both historic and contemporary Indian life.
Daily 10AM-5PM May-Oct; closed Mondays Nov-Apr, several discounts and free admission on occasion; discount pass for Museum of New Mexico applies$12 adults, $11 students, youth 16 and under free
See
El Rancho de las Golondrinas
A massive outdoor "living history" museum portraying Spanish colonial days, with reconstructions of a village, farms, orchards, a vineyard, and a large water mill. In May you'll be dodging swarms of bored children on school field trips; visiting in the fall is better.
Jun-Sep Wed-Sun 10AM-4PMAdults $6, seniors/teens 13-18 $4, children 12 and under free. More during special events
EatMexican restaurant
Pantry Restaurant
Delicious food served in a diner-type setting. The waitstaff are super friendly, and the portions are humongous. The customers fill the small front quickly in the mornings, but seats are often available at the bar (which serves delicious milkshakes, even before noon).
Mon-Sat 6:30AM-9PM, Sun 7AM-9PM$5-$10
Buy
Steve Elmore Indian Art
Specializing in Native American antiques with an emphasis on historic Pueblo pottery, Navajo weavings, kachinas, and old pawn jewelry.
10AM-5PM daily
Buy
Lyn Fox Pueblo Pottery
Specializing in fine historic Pueblo pottery from the eight northern pueblos, including Native American clay pots, dough bowls, vases, olla pots, and storyteller pottery.
Do Not mapped
Santa Fe Wine Festival
At Rancho de las Golondrinas, taste and enjoy some of the finest wines in New Mexico in the beautiful outdoor setting of a living history museum
usually first weekend in July
Buy
William R. Talbot Fine Art
Historic maps, regionalist prints and paintings.
Do Not mapped
Farolito Walk
A Christmas Eve walk around the historic areas of downtown Santa Fe, throughout which have been set farolitos, small brown bags filled with sand and a votive candle, to light the way for the Christ Child
SeeHistory museum
De Vargas Street House
The De Vargas Street House, often referred to as the Oldest House, is a historic building in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which is often said to be one of the oldest buildings in United States. The original date of construction is unknown but the majority of the building is believed to date to the Spanish colonial period (post-1610). One archaeological study also concluded that some sections of the walls are characteristic of Pueblo architecture and may be pre-Spanish in origin.
Built 1646
SeeHistoric site
A. M. Bergere House
The Alfred M. Bergere House, at 135 Grant Ave. in Santa Fe, New Mexico, was built in the 1870s. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
SeeHistoric site
Donaciano Vigil House
The Donaciano Vigil House is an adobe house built in 1832 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. It was home of Donaciano Vigil, the first Hispanic governor of New Mexico under US rule.
SeeHistoric site
Ricardo Alarid House
This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Santa Fe County, New Mexico. This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States. Latitude and longitude coordinates are provided for many National Register properties and districts; these locations may be seen together in a map.
SeeRuins
Fort Marcy (ruins)
Fort Marcy was a military reservation in Santa Fe, New Mexico used during the American Civil War and Mexican–American War. It was decommissioned in the 1890s.
SeeHistoric site
Digneo-Valdes House
The Digneo-Valdez House, at 1231 Paseo de Peralta in Santa Fe, New Mexico, was built in 1939. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It is a one-and-half-story brick house constructed by Italian immigrant and building contractor Carl Digneo.
SeeHistoric site
Gregorio Crespín House
The Gregorio Crespin House, also known as the Van Stone House, is located at 132 E. De Vargas St. in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The adobe structure was built as a two-room house by Gregorio Crespin between 1720 and 1750.
SeeHistoric building
Santa Fe County John Gaw Meem Historic Building
site formerly had building that was the residence of Maria Gertrudis Barceló
Built 1939
SeeMonument
Hometown Hero
An eight-foot-tall bronze statue honoring Medal of Honor recipient Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry
SeeMonument
Kit Carson Monument
obelisk portion removed by the General Services Administration after vehicular damage
SeeHistoric site
Fort Marcy Officer's Residence
Also known as the Edgar Lee Hewett House.
EatAmerican restaurant
The Pantry Rio
229 Galisteo Street
Open now · closes 2:30 pm
SeeHistoric building
Felipe B. Delgado House
124 West Palace Avenue
Built 1890
SeeViewpoint
Cross of the Martyrs Hill
617 Paseo de Peralta
SeeHistoric site
Carlos Vierra House
1002 Old Pecos Trail
SeeHistoric site
El Zaguán
Also known as the James L. Johnson House & Garden.
SeeMemorial
USS Santa Fe Bell
154 W Marcy St
SeeHistoric building
New Mexico School for the Arts
former Santa Fe Builders Supply Company Building (SanBusCo)
SeeMonument
Soldiers' Monument
survey new height, confirm former height
SeeHistoric building
Superintendent's Residence
1064 Cerrillos Road
SeeMonument
Bandelier National Monument
SeeMonument
New Mexico Eternal Flame
Capitol Place
SeePublic art
Journey's End
SeeMonument
Bandalier National Monument
SeeMonument
Japanese Internment Camp Remembrance Site
1474 La Loma Vista
SeeHistoric site
Padre Gallegos House
227-237 Washington Avenue
SeeMemorial
200th Coast Artillery Marker and Eternal Flame
SeeHistoric site
Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Depot Locomotive 5030
SeeHistoric building
Batts Building
54-58 Lincoln Avenue

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Santa Fe (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps. Some descriptions from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).