Hispanic Traditions
Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, Estbanico the Moor and their companions are believed to be the first Europeans to see New Mexico. They arrived here a hundred years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. Although Indians held them captive, they escaped in 1534 and returned to Mexico with stories of the lands they traveled.
After hearing Extebanico's stories of gold, Spanish explorer Francisco Vázquez de Coronado led the first group of Europeans to comprehensively explore the state in 1540. The Spanish conquistadors never found the fabled Seven Cities of Cibola for which they were searching. Coronado, however, was successful in charting much of New Mexico.
Juan de Oñate established the first official European colony in 1598, called San Gabriel de Yungé, near the confluence of the Río Grande and Río Chama. His persistent colonists introduced many of the cultural traditions that flourish today.
After Oñate was relieved of his command due to atrocities against Native Americans, Pedro de Peralta established Santa Fe as the new capital in 1607. Today Santa Fe reigns as the oldest U.S. capital.
Catholic missionaries began zealously converting Indians to Christianity. Pueblo people resented relinquishing their beliefs and being forced to labor for the colonists. The Pueblo people of northern New Mexico united under Po'Pay and launched the Pueblo Revolt in 1680. Scores of Spanish settlers were killed; survivors fled south to Isleta Pueblo with many Christianized Indians and mestizos (persons of mixed blood).
Under the leadership of Diego de Vargas, the Spanish reconquered the area between 1692 and 1695. The Spanish colonists survived on limited resources with crucial help from their Pueblo neighbors.
The period of Spanish colonization gave way to a period of Mexican control when the country gained independence from Spain in 1821. The newly established Mexican government opened trade with the fledgling United States and maintained control of the area until U.S. General Stephen Watts Kearny occupied Santa Fe in 1846, declaring New Mexico a U.S. territory. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican-American War in 1848, ceasing Mexico's control of the territory.
Hispanic traditions and heritage can be seen throughout the state today, from Spanish mission churches like El Sancturario de Chimayo (pictured at right) to foods, and celebrations like Santa Fe's Traditional Spanish Market, Contemporary Spanish Market, and Fiesta de Santa Fe.
