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Santa Fe in Santa Fe County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
 

Mother Magdalen and the Sisters of Loretto (1852-1968)

 
 
Mother Magdalen and the Sisters of Loretto Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 23, 2011
1. Mother Magdalen and the Sisters of Loretto Marker
Inscription.

Four Sisters of Loretto, Mother Magdalen Hayden and Sisters Roberta Brown, Rosana Dant and Catherine Mahoney, arrived in Santa Fe from Kentucky on September 26, 1852. In January 1853 they established Our Lady of Light Academy, later known as Loretto, the first school for young women in the Territory of New Mexico.

Reverse
Between 1863 and 1879 the Sisters with the help of local people raised funds to build the Loretto Chapel. During the next century, hundreds of women, many of them of Hispanic heritage, joined the Sisters of Loretto. Lucia Perea became the first native-born New Mexican superior at Loretto, Santa Fe in 1896.
 
Erected by New Mexico Historic Preservation Division. (Marker Number 574.)
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public WorkEducationReligion & Religious StructuresWomen. In addition, it is included in the New Mexico Women’s Historic Marker Initiative series list. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1853.
 
Location. 35° 41.09′ N, 105° 56.281′ W. Marker is in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in Santa Fe County. It is at the
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intersection of East Alameda Street and Old Santa Fe Trail, on the left when traveling west on East Alameda Street. Marker is on the southwest corner E. Alameda & Old Santa Fe Trail in the small park along the Santa Fe River. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Santa Fe NM 87501, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern New Mexico. It is also in the American Southwest, in the Mountain West, and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Dorothy Scarritt McKibbin (within shouting distance of this marker); Barrio de Analco (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); San Miguel Church (about 500 feet away); Welcome to San Miguel Church (about 500 feet away); The "Oldest" House (about 500 feet away); Myra Ellen Jenkins (about 500 feet away); Welcome to the Pink Adobe (about
Mother Magdalen and the Sisters of Loretto Marker Reverse image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 23, 2011
2. Mother Magdalen and the Sisters of Loretto Marker Reverse
500 feet away); Lamy Building (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Fe.
 
Mother Magdalen and the Sisters of Loretto Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 23, 2011
3. Mother Magdalen and the Sisters of Loretto Marker
Mother Magdalen and the Sisters of Loretto (1852-1968) Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Brian Anderson, May 24, 2018
4. Mother Magdalen and the Sisters of Loretto (1852-1968) Marker
Loretto Chapel image. Click for full size.
Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 13, 2012
5. Loretto Chapel
On Old Santa Fe Trail near East Water Street.
The Miraculous Staircase in Loretto Chapel image. Click for full size.
Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 13, 2012
6. The Miraculous Staircase in Loretto Chapel
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on September 18, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 4, 2011, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,909 times since then and 30 times this year. Last updated on July 5, 2018, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio. Photos:   1, 2, 3. submitted on August 4, 2011, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona.   4. submitted on July 5, 2018, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio.   5, 6. submitted on April 15, 2012, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
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Jul. 8, 2026