When it comes to museums, Santa Fe has a lot to brag about. From art museums, including the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, to the Santa Fe Children’s Museum, there are more than a dozen museums to tour in this city of just over 80,000.
On a recent visit, I chose to tour three; each with a different story to tell.
Museum of International Folk Art
Home to the world’s largest collection of folk art, the museum represents cultures from around the world. With a collection of more than 150,000 artifacts, the museum is a labyrinth of color, shape and beauty; carvings, paintings and creations on paper.
Museum of Spanish Colonial Art
The only museum in the country dedicated to exhibiting and interpreting the art of the Spanish colonial period with a focus on Hispanic New Mexico, the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art houses a collection of more than 3,700 pieces.
Palace of the Governors
Built by the Spanish as a government building in 1610, the Palace remains the country’s oldest continuously occupied public building. Its exhibits chronicle the history of Santa Fe as well as New Mexico and the region. The National Historic Landmark was the original seat of New Mexico’s territorial government since the time of Spanish colonization.
Santa Fe is a destination of history, culture and art. A visit here, anytime of year, is a treasure for the senses and a journey for the soul.
It’s amazing how many small museums there are, highlighting things that either don’t make it to the Big Ones, or are lost there…thanks for these!