The Old New Mexico - part 3

In the second half of the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors and missionaries began to explore the present-day New Mexico in search of the legendary Seven Cities of Gold.

Cathedral of St. Francis de Assisi, c. 1886, Santa Fe.

The oldest European-built street in the mainland USA, Santa Fe.

The oldest European-built residential building in North America north of Mexico, c. 1650.

In 1610, they established Santa Fe, today the only city in the USA with really interesting architecture. Its beautiful adaptation of the traditional Pueblo Indians' adobe style is now a cliche throughout the American Southwest.

San Miguel Mission, the oldest church in the USA, c. 1610, Santa Fe.

Street in Santa Fe, 18th century.

San Felipe de Neri church, c. 1793, Albuquerque.

Hotel, 20th century, Santa Fe.

One of the two communal houses inhabited since approximately 1500 AD, Taos Pueblo.

Soon, the Spanish invaders enslaved and partially converted the Pueblo Indians, residents of centuries-old agricultural villages along the Rio Grande and its tributaries.

The second communal house, Taos Pueblo.

Acoma Pueblo was built on a rocky mesa in an attempt to avoid frequent raids by Apache and Navajo Indians.

Nowadays, Acoma Pueblo is also known under its "touristic" name, Sky City.

San Esteban del Rey Mission, c. 1629, Acoma Pueblo.

In Acoma Pueblo, people were forced to haul huge timbers and tons of dirt for many miles across the desert, then up a steep rock cliff, to built a colossal San Esteban church on top of an almost inaccessible rocky mesa.

San Esteban del Rey Mission, c. 1629, Acoma Pueblo.

Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles mission, c. 1710, Pecos Nat'l Historic Park.

Abo Mission, c. 1620-1670, Salinas Missions Nat'l Monument.

Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles mission, c. 1710, Pecos Nat'l Historic Park.

Kiva in the churchyard of Abo Mission, built in the 17th century with the priest's permission.

Not all priests were that cruel: some even allowed the Indians to build kivas inside churchyards to ease the religious transition. Nevertheless, many of Catholic missions were destroyed during the 1680 Pueblo Revolt or later.

Kiva at Pecos, built after the Pueblo Revolt as a sign of defiance.

San Jose church, Jemes Mission.

Gran Quivira Mission, c. 1600-1670, Salinas Missions Nat'l Monument.

San Jose church, Jemes Mission.

Quarai Mission, c. 1600-1670, Salinas Missions Nat'l Monument.

Some missions collapsed as many pueblos were abandoned following disease outbreaks or raids by nomadic tribes. Roadrunner, Abo Mission.

Site of abandoned Pecos Pueblo, Pecos Nat'l Historic Park.

San Jose de Las Trampas church, c. 1760, near Santa Fe.

Christo Rey church, c. 1860, near Santa Fe.

San Vicente de Paul church, c. 1878, Punta de Agua.

In 1692, the Spanish re-conquered New Mexico. They suppressed two more revolts, and built many beautiful missions and churches. This time their rule was more civilized, but Indian population continued to decline.

San Ysidro church, c. 1868, San Isydro.

Santuario de Chimayo, c. 1814, Chimayo.

Santuario de Chimayo, c. 1814, Chimayo.

San Felipe de Neri church, c. 1793, Albuquerque.

San Miguel mission, c. 1816, Socorro.

Some of those missions and churches are still revered by New Mexican Catholics, especially Santuario de Chimayo near Santa Fe and San Miguel Mission in Socorro.

Christmas lights at San Miguel mission.

San Miguel mission, c. 1980, Espanola.

San Miguel mission, c. 1816, Socorro.

San Fransisco de Asis church, c. 1805, Rancho de Taos.

San Fransisco de Asis church near Taos (below) is also a popular tourist attraction.

San Fransisco de Asis church, c. 1805, Rancho de Taos.

Full moon over San Fransisco de Asis church.

Part 4

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