This may be one of our most fascinating states, for so many reasons. But for now, sorry readers, bear with me as I re-cap some important basic facts about a state that envelops all that we hold dear about our national, cultural mosaic of a country.
There will be no test and absolutely no final, just a couple of thought-provoking historical precepts to get that brain of yours working.
Let’s begin with Santa Fe. For no other reason than I fell in love with it and want to share that experience with history-lovers and Francophiles.
Santa Fe, founded by the Spanish in 1610, is the capitol of this magnificent state and was originally declared the Royal City of the Holy Faith of St. Francis of Assisi, or as it was known in Spanish, La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Franicso de Assis.
I’m exhausted just writing that explanation, imagine if the city hadn’t been changed officially to Santa Fe? All those road signs to re-tool!
To continue, it was then occupied by Mexicans, Native Americans and Spanish and remained under Spanish control until residents seethed and revolted. The result of that revulsion? Re-named as the New Republic of Mexico, which lasted 25 years. Don’t worry, we’re getting to the French part. Patience is a virtue, dear reader.
Then of course of own US Calvary had its say, defeated the Mexicans and the region was finally ceded to the United States in 1848. Now the melting pot, tired of war and ready to enjoy the gorgeous natural beauty of the place, included Native Americans, Spanish, Mexicans and Anglos.
So why is there the Loretto Chapel at the end of the Old Santa Fe Trail? Here comes more history. French history. It all began when Bishop Jean Baptiste Lamy was appointed by the Church to the New Mexico Territory in 1850. Bishop Lamy, looking to persuade others to his faith, also brought a new educational system that required help.
In one of his historic pleas he wrote, “I have 600 Catholics and 300 Americans.” What a joker! His first responders came by way of the Sisters of Loretto, a hearty group who made the dangerous journey through St. Louis. I can barely stand being in a car for more than four hours, I pity the nuns who made this trek.
Unfortunately, besides this “little” hiking expedition, the group was beset by a cholera epidemic and the Mother Superior died. More drama ensued (hey, I’m thinking—great television series, KEN BURNS!) and the Sisters arrived in Santa Fe in 1852, opening the Academy of our Lady of Light (Loretto) the next year.
Here comes some juicy bits. Jean Baptiste Lamy (remember him, the French guy?) brought architect Antoine Mouly and his son Projectus Mouly (and we thought kids in our era had odd names) from…..Paris! What they designed remains as the focal point of Santa Fe Plaza. I managed to squeeze in a quick walk-through, despite it being renovated, and the inside is magnificent.
Apparently smitten with the architect’s vision, Archbishop Lamy encouraged the sisters to envision their own French-inspired habitat, their own dream chapel, French style. As the elder Mouly had been involved in the renovation of Sainte Chapelle in Paris, he was then encouraged to shape the Loretto Chappel after this famous house of worship.
Since it had been the favorite chapel of the archbishop since his early days in Paris, the money was pooled by the sisters themselves to raise the $30,000 to build this still-standing Gothic chapel.
Naturellement, the Gothic-Revival style chapel was patterned after King Louis IX’s Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, which admittedly was a “little” bit of a clash with the traditional adobe churches and homes already built.
No matter. The ornate stained glass was purchased from the DuBois Studio, a famed site in Paris, and the glass was sent by paddle boat and wagon till it reached the Chapel.
Not only that, the Bishop’s Lodge Resort and ShaNah Spa, just a few meandering miles away from the bustling Santa Fe Plaza, is an idyllic resort that offers guests acres of rolling hills, splendid landscaping and the original Bishop’s private chapel, where weddings still take place.
There’s plenty more history to cover, but I won’t torture, I mean, delve into it here. Check the resort’s website for some eye-openers.
But the New Mexico History Museum will open this coming May, 2009, with multimedia (kids love that!) interactive exhibits on the state’s storied past, legends and roots in Native Americana, Spanish, Mexican Anglo and French cultures.
