"The Plaza" in the center of Santa Fe. The Plaza has served as the social focal point of the City since its founding in 1609.
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A view of the corner of Washington Ave. and West Palace Ave. in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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The block-long Palace of the Governors, the oldest continuously occupied government building in the U.S., was built in 1610, is now the State History Museum of New Mexico. The portico all along the Plaza-facing front is a gathering place for American Indian artisans selling their wares.
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A view looking down the portico of the Palace of the Governors which houses the "Native American Vendors Program".
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A view looking down the portico of the Palace of the Governors which houses the "Native American Vendors Program".
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Juan Tafoya under the portico of the Palace of the Governors where he was selling his pottery. We bought one of his black-on-black pots.
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Juan Tafoya and Mom under the portico of the Palace of the Governors where he was selling his pottery. We bought one of his black-on-black pots.
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Mom outside the Loretto Chapel in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico, built for the Sisters of Loretto in 1878, was one of the first gothic church buildings in the West, but is now a privately owned museum, which contains the "Miraculous Staircase".
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The outside of the Loretto Chapel, built for the Sisters of Loretto in 1878, was one of the first gothic church buildings in the West, but is now a privately owned museum, which contains the "Miraculous Staircase".
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The altar of the Loretto Chapel in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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A view of the rear of the Loretto Chapel showing the "Miraculous Staircase". According to legend, this corkscrew spiral choirloft staircase was built without nails or support beams.
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A view towards the front of the Loretto Chapel showing the "Miraculous Staircase". A mysterious carpenter, who appeared apparently in answer to the nuns' prayers, built it using only: a T-square, a hammer, a saw, and a tub for bending water-softened wood.
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A view of the "Miraculous Staircase" in Loretto Chapel. The stairway is 22 feet high, has no center support and was assembled with wooden pegs. It has 33 steps and makes 2 complete 360-degree turns. Originally built without the banister, whch was added on later.
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Mom resting in front of one of many alley shops in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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A cart of ristras, strings of dried, red chilies. The chilies first came to New Mexico wth the spanish colonists in 1598.
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The ristras, strings of dried, red chilies, hung in the kitchen or by a door, are a Santa Fe tradition. New Mexico is the number one chili-growing state in the country.
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