Santa Cruz in Santa Fe County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Santa Cruz de la Cañada
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Santa Cruz Plaza on the Camino Real
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 23, 2011
1. Santa Cruz de la Cañada Marker
side one
Santa Cruz de la Cañada. In 1695, Governor Diego de Vargas founded his first town, Santa Cruz de la Cañada, designed to protect the Spanish frontier north of Santa Fe. The church, which still stands, was constructed in the 1730s. In 1837, residents revolted against Mexican authorities, resulting in the death of Governor Albino Pérez.
Santa Cruz Plaza On the Camino Real. In 1695 Governor Diego de Vargas founded Santa Cruz de la Cañada south of the Santa Cruz River. The town was later moved to this site north of the river. The church facing the Plaza dates from the 1730s. Santa Cruz was an important stop on the Camino Real between Santa Fe and Taos.
Erected by New Mexico Historic Preservation Division.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1695.
Location. 35° 59.459′ N, 106° 2.866′ W. Marker is in Santa Cruz, New Mexico, in Santa Fe County. It is on South McCurdy Road (County Road 583) 0.1 miles north of Santa Cruz Road (State Road 76), on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Santa Cruz NM 87567, 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.
this page online
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 23, 2011
2. Santa Cruz Plaza – On the Camino Real Marker
side two
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 23, 2011
3. Santa Cruz de la Cañada Marker
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 23, 2011
4. Santa Cruz Plaza – On the Camino Real Marker
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 23, 2011
5. Santa Cruz de la Cañada Marker
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 23, 2011
6. Santa Cruz de la Cañada Church
Credits. This page was last revised on January 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 5, 2011, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 2,379 times since then and 111 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 5, 2011, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
