At All Roads North, we believe that a place is nothing without its people. So often, when we ask our clients the most memorable parts of their journey, it’s not the Instagram-worthy landscape or acclaimed hotel that they mention, it’s the encounters they had along the way.  That’s why our trips are carefully designed to make those connections, providing you with an authentic and immersive experience. These experiences– whether it be with a local craftsman, musician, chef or marine biologist– are the inspiration for our Connections series, where we talk to friends of All Roads North to get an insider’s look at some of our favorite places across the U.S.

Tell us about your Santa Fe story?

My family settled in Santa Fe in 1692; I am the former historian for the city. I am the author of eight books on New Mexico history and the founding publisher and editor of La Herencia, a quarterly magazine on New Mexico history from 1994 through 2009.

What three words sum up Santa Fe for you? 

City of Holy Faith.

What’s something that Santa Fe does better than anywhere else? 

Santa Fe is a beacon for those in search of healing, self-discovery, and growth. (It has to do with the surrounding mountain vortex). 

Canyon Road

What major tourist attraction lives up to the hype? 

Canyon Road, which has the highest density of art galleries in the world.

What’s your favorite neighborhood to wander? 

The Barrio de Analco, which features the oldest church in the U.S., the San Miguel Mission Church built between 1605 -1608. The Barrio de Analco was given its name by the Tlaxcalan Indians who came as slaves from Mexico with the Spanish Conquistadors in 1598. Analco means “on the other side of the river” in Nahuatl, the native language of the Tlaxcalans. During the day, the Barrio Analco is buzzing with the activity of people visiting the San Miguel Mission. San Miguel is the oldest church in the U.S. built between 1605–1608. Just up the street is the New Mexico State capitol where people like to meander. Santa Fe is such an art town that you can visit the Governor’s Gallery on the top floor of the rotunda – New Mexico’s state capitol is the only round state capitol in the country. Most of the buildings on the east side of the neighborhood were built upon the San Miguel cemetery, the oldest cemetery in town. Throughout the decades there have been several instances of ghost sightings. Few people wander around the Barrio Analco at night for that reason but for those adventurous souls’ ghost hunting is always an option!

Underrated in Santa Fe, overrated in Santa Fe, personal favorite, and recent discovery? 

Underrated: The artist market at the Santa Fe Railyard. More visitors need to experience the work of local artists. Overrated: Some of Santa Fe’s high-end restaurants, too expensive with a lack of continuity—one great experience doesn’t equate to an exceptional second visit. Personal favorite: You can’t go wrong with a Frito Pie in Santa Fe. Recent discovery: This summer a street vendor was selling bizcochito ice cream sandwiches on the Santa Fe Plaza. The bizcochito is the New Mexico state cookie made with anise.

What restaurant do you take friends from out of town for dinner, a casual local’s favorite, and a weekend brunch? 

The Compound for dinner, Rancho de Chimayo for lunch and La Plazuela at La Fonda hotel for brunch. 

Where do you go to get into nature? 

Santa Fe is surrounded by parks and trails, so I just walk a couple of blocks from my home to enjoy the great outdoors. I like to walk along Alameda Street which runs parallel to Canyon Road and the Santa Fe River. In the autumn, the leaves of the cottonwood trees changing color and the smell of green chile roasting makes for the most enjoyable two-mile walk in Santa Fe.

What trends are you noticing in Santa Fe right now? 

An emphasis on modern art versus traditional and historic art forms.

From your perspective as a historian, what fascinates you the most about Santa Fe’s history? 

The history of this nation would not be complete without the story of Santa Fe. Santa Fe is the most historically significant city in this country that has impacted the world through different historical events during different centuries. For example, in 1943 the Manhattan Project and the atomic bomb had their genesis in Santa Fe. Both triumphant and tragic, the development of the bomb changed the course of world history. 

The post Connections: Sante Fe with Historian Ana Pacheco appeared first on All Roads North.

To make our case we’ll take you on a journey through time, shining the spotlight on places you can visit tomorrow, while experiencing their place in the past:

1325 AD

Taos Pueblo is Built

Taos Pueblo, a centuries old pueblo in New Mexico, is one of America’s oldest continuously inhabited communities. A fantastic place to learn about age-old Indigenous traditions, the adobe structures have survived since their beginnings in early as the 13th century. Taos Pueblo is not only a relic of the past– it’s a thriving community of Pueblo Indians with a rich cultural legacy that has been carefully preserved from their ancestors. 

In a unique experience that takes a typical visit to the next level, All Roads North will pair you with a Taos Pueblo tribal member who will guide you in baking bread in a traditional horno oven. 

1766

The First Enslaved Africans Arrive in Savannah

As the third point of entry for enslaved Africans during the Transatlantic Slave Trade, Savannah, Georgia had one of the highest populations of trafficked people from Africa. As such, the city is one of the best places to experience the history of African American communities from the country’s beginnings. 

You can come face to face with the inhumane conditions slaves lived in at sprawling plantations just outside the city. You can visit Pin Point on the coast, a small but vibrant African American community founded after the abolishment of slavery post-Civil War. Just a few miles south of Savannah, Georgia, the Pin Point community developed its own distinct culture and language, known as Gullah Geechee. All Roads North will pair you with a master Gullah Geechee storyteller who will walk you through Savannah, sharing the stories of her ancestors.

1804

Lewis and Clark Depart on Their Expedition 

After the U.S. doubled its territory through the Louisiana Purchase, President Thomas Jefferson commissioned his private secretary Meriweather Lewis and army captain William Clark to head an exploration of the uncharted, new territory. Departing from St. Louis, the crew of 45 men made their way west through what is now Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. In North Dakota, a young Native American woman named Sacagawea and her husband joined the expedition. A full year after their departure, the team reached the Oregon coast. After hearing of Lewis and Clark’s successful journey, millions of Americans began migrating westward in search of new opportunities.

1848

The 49er’s Strike Gold in California 

The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern is a luxury stay in Los Olivos with a wild California gold rush history. Originally constructed in 1886 by a Swiss immigrant named Felix Mattei as the primary stagecoach stop between San Francisco and Los Angeles, the property’s other past lives include a stint as a sneaky speakeasy location during the Prohibition. 

Today, you can enjoy homages to an interesting past as well as the new luxurious touches, courtesy of a recent renovation by Auberge. It’s the perfect place from which to enjoy the area’s blossoming fine dining scene, go wine-tasting, and ride horseback through the mountains and valleys of Santa Ynez.

1857

The Age of the Cattle Barons

Cibolo Creek Ranch is one of the oldest ranches in Texas where historical artifacts, art and antiques combine to create an authentic 19th-century atmosphere. According to legend the cattle baron who started the ranch, Milton Faver, fled to West Texas after emerging victorious from a deadly duel. Over the course of several decades, Faver developed a flourishing trading business along the Rio Grande.

Guests have room to roam throughout the property’s expansive 30,000 acres, and view Native American rock art and the ranch’s three historic forts. The forts built strategically across the property stood as strongholds against local bandits and Apache and Comanche raiders. 

1880’s–1920’s

The Gilded Age

The Point is a member of the elite ranks of the “Adirondack Great Camps.” In the late 19th century, Gilded Age magnates– such as the Vanderbilts and Guggenheims– built idyllic log mansions along the lakeshores of upstate New York as escapes back into nature. The Point, built by a member of the Rockefeller clan, is the paragon of this Great Camps era and continues to offer peace and natural beauty to this day.

During your luxurious stay at The Point, unwind without the distraction of television and with the serenity of the lake and forest at all sides. Twice a week you’ll have the opportunity to dress up in black tie attire and join an elegant seven-course meal, in the glamorous style of the Rockefeller’s Great Camps of old. During the day, participate in as many (or as few!) activities as you choose– from waterskiing, fishing and paddle-boarding on the lake to hiking, tennis or croquet amongst the trees.

1900’s

The Birth of Modern American Art

Jackson Pollock working on Alchemy in 1947 Photo: Collection Peggy Guggenheim © The Artist and Cristin Tierney Gallery, New York, NY

During the 20th century, several iconic modern American artists began work that would become deeply embedded in both the national and international imagination. Georgia O’Keefe, known as the “Mother of American modernism,” captured the spirit of the American West with enlarged depictions of flowers and New Mexico landscapes. Jackson Pollock, widely noticed for his distinctive “drip technique,” was the leading force behind the abstract expressionist movement. Mark Rothko is a Latvian-American artist that made an indelible mark on the modern art scene. He was closely identified with the New York school, a circle of painters that emerged during the 1940’s as a new collective voice in American art. His most recognizable works are his deceivingly simple color field paintings. 

1929-1939

The CCC Is Created by Roosevelt’s New Deal

Bettmann Archive

The Great Depression was the worst economic downturn in the history of the industrialized world and affected every aspect of American life in the early 1900’s. Unemployment reached a peak of 25 percent. Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, created to provide employment and re-energize America’s broken economy. Over the course of nine years, the CCC employed millions of young men, primarily making valuable contributions to public land development. The work relief program planted more than three billion trees and constructed trails and shelters in more than 800 parks nationwide. To this day, many national parks and public lands sport signs paying homage to the efforts of these young men during the Great Depression. Some of the most notable that the CCC contributed to are Grand Canyon National Park, Zion National Park and Big Bend National Park. 

1941-1945

World War II in the U.S.

The tremors from World War II were so widely felt across the United States that it’s difficult to narrow down the places most keenly marked by it. In 1942, the U.S. government ordered more than 110,000 Japanese Americans to be detained at Manzanar War Relocation Center, leaving their careers and homes behind. Now a National Historic Site, visitors can visit Manzanar and learn more about the lives of the immigrants and citizens who were held there against their will. Known as the birthplace of the atomic bomb, Los Alamos is probably the most famous federal government laboratory in the U.S. Early in the war, the U.S. government issued the Los Alamos laboratory with a top-secret mission: to end the war via the creation of an atomic bomb. The site was so secret that one mailbox, PO Box 1663, served as the mailing address for the entire town. 

1950’s

Mid Century Modern Architecture Is Born

Mid Century modern architecture is instantly recognizable, partly due to a modern resurgence in popularity. Captured in popular TV shows and movies, such as Mad Men or Don’t Worry Darling, the aesthetic is generally assigned as gaining traction in 1933-1965. As always with art and architecture, the movement had roots in the cultural and political moment of the time; in this case, the end of World War II and the demand for modern, suburban homes. Palm Springs, California is something of a time capsule of these mid century modern homes. A cruise around the local neighborhoods, or even a visit to the Tramway Gas Station, reveals a treasure trove of well-preserved architectural gems. The style can be found across the nation as well, from residential architecture such as Los Angeles’ Eames House to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater in Pennsylvania.

1973

The First Mushing Team Crosses the Finish Line on the Inaugural Iditarod Trail Race

In the early 1920’s, white settlers flocked to Alaska hoping to strike gold. Arriving by boat in the coastal towns of Seward and Knik, the newcomers had to travel by land to the gold fields. The historic trail they used is today known as the Iditarod Trail. In the winter, their only means of travel was by dog team along the Iditarod. Mushing, or dog sledding, became crucial to the settlement of Alaska, as dog teams transported mail, people and supplies during the winter’s harshest months. However, as the use of the airplanes and snowmobiles became common throughout the mid 1900’s, the Iditarod Trail was a quickly-fading notion of the past by the late 60’s.

Dorothy G. Page, a resident of Wasilla and self-made historian, conceived the idea to host a dog sled race along the historic trail in homage to its key role in the state’s development. The first race was held in 1973 with 22 mushing teams finishing the 1,000 mile competition.  

1990 

The Infamous Boston Art Heist

Dutch Room, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston. Photo: Sean Dungan

Boston is famous for its Revolutionary War era history. You can visit the site of the Boston Tea Party at Griffin’s Wharf, the Paul Revere House, and America’s first university, Harvard. But did you know that Boston’s more recent history marks it as the site of the world’s largest art heist? In the early morning of March 18, 1990, two thieves disguised as police officers broke into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and stole 13 works of art, valued at over $500 million. The crime remains a mystery, as none of the artwork has been recovered and the thieves are still at large. Visitors to the museum today can still see five empty frames left behind from which the thieves took paintings.

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