There is no doubt about it. Santa Fe is rich in museums! Just in the heart of town, only steps from each other, there are five outstanding museums. And this is only in the very heart of Santa Fe, all within a short distance of the central plaza.
New Mexico Museum of Art
In November 2017, one of the five central museums of Santa Fe, the New Mexico Museum of Art, celebrated its one hundredth birthday. One hundred years ago, in 1917, Santa Fe was a small town of only 5,000 residents. But this was this was a time of growth and pure artistic excitement. The wide open skies, the color, and the light of Santa Fe were attracting a growing community of artists. Many of them were established artists from the East Coast and even beyond, from Europe.
What is most endearing is the original intention of the museum: the participation and exchange between the artist, the museum and the community. The museum was, at its inception, a home for the artists. It was a support system set up by the original founders aimed at attracting and keeping fine artists in Santa Fe. There were no juried exhibits. The artists lived in studios not far away. They hung their work in the museum, sharing it with the people of Santa Fe and amongst themselves. The very first exhibit, mostly donated by these pioneering artists, became the core of the permanent collection. You can still enjoy the paintings and other works of such greats as John Sloan, Marsden Hartley, and Gustave Baumann, to name only a few.
If you are here in December, they will bring out Baumann’s puppets that he made for entertaining his own children. Now the puppets put on a show for all children in Santa Fe, young and old.
I know that there is a piece of Georgia O’Keeffe’s work somewhere in the museum. Initially, though, she did not get a warm reception by the museum and her paintings were not accepted. But no need to feel remorse for O’Keeffe. She now has her very own museum a short walk away.-
NOTE: There is s recent extension of the New Mexican Museum of Art, the Vladem Contemporary, located in the Santa Fe Railyard District. In this post I concentrate on the museums in the center of Santa Fe, all just steps from the Central Plaza
Georgia O'Keeffe Museum
Reserve your tickets ahead of time if you are an O”Keeffe fan. Many visitors are and you will see them lining up outside in numbers waiting entrance. Also, it’s good to know that the house where the aritist lived and her studio are open to visitors. It is located in Abiqui, New Mexico. The town and surrounding areas are great places to visit and can be done in a day. It is a doable day drive from Santa Fe.
IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts
As its name indicates, all of the works in the museum are exclusively done by Native American artists. And all of them are contemporary pieces.
Regretfully, it was the last of the five museums that I ventured to visit since living in Santa Fe. It is certainly not the least loved and it is one I plan to continue to revisit frequently. I actually decided to make a solo post of my visit after going there. Check it out here: https://roadtosuchness.com/iaia-museum-of-contemporary-native-arts/ I love the building and all the separate rooms to discover. And I admit to spending a large amount of time examining each lovely piece of jewelry and accessories. They are on the second floor.
Heads up: The museum was selected by USA Today as one of the best art museums in the country, 2023.
Palace of the Governors
In 1610 European settlers, in what is now New Mexico, began construction of the Palace of the Governors. When it was only one year short of three hundred years old, the building took on a new purpose. In 1909 it became the Museum of New Mexico. Although it was restored and renovated, these renovations used all the features of local traditions. It is often referred to as the Spanish-Pueblo-Revival style. The museum has preserved the original features of the building. This will help you identify and understand the distinct architecture that has prevailed up until the present time in Santa Fe.
Take note in the photograph above. The inner walls have been exposed, showing the original interior of the building.
New Mexico History Museum
Three different spaces make up the whole of the New Mexico History Museum. The Palace of the Governors, which I wrote about above, is one part of the trio. Enter the doors of the Domenici Building on Lincoln Avenue, guide yourself straight ahead and to the right. To the immediate left after entering the building is the museum shop. I find no trouble in spending a long time in there. Find the elevators if you are looking for the latest exhibits in the New Mexican History Museum. I have been to s few exhibits over the years that focus on different times in the history of New Mexico. Below are two photographs of the clothes worn by the Hippies who came to New Mexico in the late Sixties, early Seventies. And I distinctly remember an old Volkswagen Van on display.
Directly across the street is the Chavez Library Building. It houses two collections. One is the Palace of the Governor’ Photo Archives, which is approximately one million photo items dating from 1845. By appointment only: 505-476-5200. Also the building houses the Fra Angelico Chavez History Museum,
