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Santa Fe's 400th Anniversary Plans - 2009
The people of Santa Fe have been working long and hard to capture the city's spirit, imagination, and pride in advance of the commemoration of Santa Fe's 400th Anniversary. As the oldest European settlement west of the Mississippi there is extensive ground to cover prior to this milestone. Wonderful plans have already taken shape and much more is in process to mark the founding of one of America's most historic and vibrant cities.
North America was visited by explorers more than 400 years ago but 1607 was the start of a land rush to settle the New World. The founding of Jamestown by the British in 1607 was quickly followed by the French establishing Quebec in 1608 and the Spanish settling Santa Fe in 1609.
Some put forth 1608 as the time Spanish Conquistadors relocated from farther north in the region to what would become La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco de Asis, present day Santa Fe. Former New Mexico State Historian Tom Chavez uncovered documents in Spain indicating a European settlement near Santa Fe existed as early as 1607. Of course Native Americans made the area home for thousands of years prior but the Spanish Viceroy gave orders to Don Pedro de Peralta in 1609 to settle the villa. Then there is the date "1610" on the city's seal, the date of the city charter.
In the genuine spirit of "The City Different," it was determined that the Anniversary Commemoration will take place starting in the late-summer of 2009 and continuing throughout 2010. The Opening Event - Viva Santa Fe - will occur over the Labor Day Weekend, September 5 and 6, 2009. National musical acts will be in concert for 2 nights, the heads of state from Spain, the US, Mexico, and Native America have been invited, and a festival area filled with art, food, music, craft, and dance will create a living link to Santa Fe's past, present, and future.
Going forward into 2010 - the official year of the 400th Anniversary - there will be a year's worth of events commemorating Santa Fe's founding. A National Classroom Webcast, cross-cultural music and dance performances, an artists presentation series, a celebration of New Mexico Film, and much more is planned for 2010.
In a town that cherishes its history and has implemented rules, covenants, and review boards aimed at preserving as many authentic links to the past as possible, it will take at least 15 months to cover all that needs to be remembered and recognized from the last 400.
Look for updated details at www.santafe400th.com
North America was visited by explorers more than 400 years ago but 1607 was the start of a land rush to settle the New World. The founding of Jamestown by the British in 1607 was quickly followed by the French establishing Quebec in 1608 and the Spanish settling Santa Fe in 1609.
Some put forth 1608 as the time Spanish Conquistadors relocated from farther north in the region to what would become La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco de Asis, present day Santa Fe. Former New Mexico State Historian Tom Chavez uncovered documents in Spain indicating a European settlement near Santa Fe existed as early as 1607. Of course Native Americans made the area home for thousands of years prior but the Spanish Viceroy gave orders to Don Pedro de Peralta in 1609 to settle the villa. Then there is the date "1610" on the city's seal, the date of the city charter.
In the genuine spirit of "The City Different," it was determined that the Anniversary Commemoration will take place starting in the late-summer of 2009 and continuing throughout 2010. The Opening Event - Viva Santa Fe - will occur over the Labor Day Weekend, September 5 and 6, 2009. National musical acts will be in concert for 2 nights, the heads of state from Spain, the US, Mexico, and Native America have been invited, and a festival area filled with art, food, music, craft, and dance will create a living link to Santa Fe's past, present, and future.
Going forward into 2010 - the official year of the 400th Anniversary - there will be a year's worth of events commemorating Santa Fe's founding. A National Classroom Webcast, cross-cultural music and dance performances, an artists presentation series, a celebration of New Mexico Film, and much more is planned for 2010.
In a town that cherishes its history and has implemented rules, covenants, and review boards aimed at preserving as many authentic links to the past as possible, it will take at least 15 months to cover all that needs to be remembered and recognized from the last 400.
Look for updated details at www.santafe400th.com