View of historic and contemporary buildings from the courtyard. Photo by Hannah Abelbeck
The New Mexico History Museum occupies three distinct buildings: the Palace of the Governors (1610), Fray Angélico Chávez Library (1907), and Pete V. Domenici Building (2009).
The spaces are connected through a large interior lobby and outside courtyard.
Primary access is through the main entrance at 113 Lincoln on the west side of the Domenici Building.
The Palace of the Governors
Palace of the Governors. Photo by T. Harmon Parkhurst
Situated on the north side of the historic Santa Fe Plaza, the Palace of the Governors is a beloved icon, complex symbol, and anchor for the New Mexico History Museum.
Dating back to 1610, the Palace is the oldest public building in continuous use constructed by European settlers in the continental United States. Built by the Spanish for colonial administration, the structure has been extensively modified over the centuries to meet changing needs and stylistic interests. In addition to Spanish colonial life, the Palace has associations with the Pueblo Revolt (1680–1692), a brief period of Mexican rule (1821–1848), settlement as an American territory (1848–1912), and statehood for New Mexico (1912–present).
In 1909 the building was designated as the home for the Museum of New Mexico. To reinforce its connections with earlier cultures the building was renovated using features drawn from local building traditions. The resulting Spanish-Pueblo Revival style helped influence the architectural character of Santa Fe and much of the state. With a few minor changes, this is the Palace of the Governors we see today.
In recognition of its historical and architectural significance, this modest one-story adobe structure has been designated a National Historic Landmark. In 2015 it was also recognized as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
For many visitors to Santa Fe, the Palace is best known for its block-long portal where Native American artisans sell handmade jewelry and other crafts. Behind the adobe walls, visitors can find interpretive galleries, the Palace Press, and a large courtyard that connects with the rest of the museum campus. Although work has been done to improve heating and cooling, lighting, and visitor access, care has been taken to maintain the building's historic character.
Except for special occasions, access to the Palace is through the Lincoln Street entrance to the New Mexico History Museum.
View Palace Related Material:
Chávez Library Building
The library building when it was built the Women's Board of Trade Library, ca. 1910. Photo by Jesse Nusbaum, Palace of the Governors Photo Archives # 056603
The Chávez Library Building houses two sets of collections: the Fray Angélico Chávez History Library, which occupies the main level, and the Palace of the Governors Photo Archives, which is on the lower level. Portions of the library and the photo archives collections were originally housed in the Palace of the Governors.
The historic library building was constructed in 1907 as the Santa Fe Women's Board of Trade Library. In 1932 it was expanded and renovated to serve as the Santa Fe Public Library. The city library moved across Washington Street in 1987, the building was purchased for the museum in 1990, and in 1996, the building renovations were finished. The building and library department were named after Fray Angélico Chávez, who donated book proceeds for the building project.
In addition to its many historic associations, the building contains two noteworthy decorative features.
Inside the stairwell on the east side of the building is a fresco painted by the artist Olive Rush in 1934 for the WPA. Titled “Con Libros no Estas Solo” or “The Library Reaches the People,” the mural shows New Mexico children and adults reading and celebrates the power of literacy and access to books.
Behind the reference desk in the Reading Room on the main level is a tile wall with illustrations by José Cisneros that commemorate events and people in New Mexico’s history.
Besides a reading room the library includes a rare book room, map room, closed stack area, and cold storage shelving for manuscripts. The photo archives contains a similar set of spaces dedicated to protection and use of its collections. Access is by appointment only.
Pete V. Domenici Building
Opened in May 2009, the Domenici Building contains galleries dedicated to both permanent and changing exhibitions as well as a secure, climate-controlled environment for storage for the museum's extensive object collection.
Related spaces support education, museum administration, special programs, and the museum shop. In total, the Domenici Building contains 96,000-square-feet of space. Docent-led museum tours and Downtown Walking Tours leave from the Lincoln Street entrance.
The Domenici Building is named after Pete V. Domenici who served New Mexico in the United States Senate from 1973 to 2009.
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