Santa Fe (N.M.)

Santa Fe, New Mexico, known as the oldest capital city in the United States, was established in 1610. Located at the end of the Camino Royal on the far northern frontier of the Spanish and Mexican empires it was an administrative, military and commercial center. With the success of the Pueblo Revolt in 1680, the Spanish colonists were exiled until 1693 when the Spaniards, under the leadership of Diego de Vargas, reconquered Santa Fe. In 1821, Mexico won its independence from Spain and in 1822, New Mexico Governor Don Facundo Melgares sent a written description of the independence celebrations held in Santa Fe to the Gaceta Imperial, the official government newspaper of Mexico. From 1821 to 1846, Santa Fe was the provincial capital of the area covering New Mexico, Arizona, parts of Colorado and Utah. The city was divided into seven districts; each named for a parish church or other familiar landmark. Also during this time the Santa Fe Trail, beginning in Missouri and ending in Santa Fe, brought Americans and their goods into the city. In 1846 General Kearny arrived in Santa Fe beginning New Mexico's period as a territory of the United States of America. When New Mexico became a state in 1912, Santa Fe was designated the state capital. After World War I, Santa Fe became popular as a vacation and tourist destination.