Monday, February 22, 2010

Museum Hill #1 "The End of the Santa Fe Trail"

To many tourists, temporary and permanent residents of Santa Fe, the museums are a major draw, and although I have attended many times thru the years, I always return to see what's new.  At the entrance to Museum Hill is this magnificent sculpture depicting the end of a journey on the Santa Fe trail that spanned many dangerous miles from the Missouri Territory to Santa Fe.  "William Becknell and four other men traveled from Franklin, Missouri for a distance of 1,203 miles to open trading between the US and Mexico in Santa Fe. In the next twenty years, about 80 wagons and 150 people traveled the trail each year." Trader William Becknell is affectionately referred to as "The Father of the Santa Fe Trail." Lightly dusted with snow, I stopped to pay homage to the traders,settlers,and animals that made the long haul. To learn more, go to this site: Santa Fe Trail

12 comments:

  1. Superbe et en plus avec cette neige cela fait plus realiste

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  2. What images full of force! I agree with Olivier: in this case the snow adds realism to the monument.

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  3. Kate, everything you write makes me want to spend some more time in Santa Fe. These are wonderful, strong images. I was interested to read the statistics about the Santa Fe Trail, too. Great post.

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  4. I'm happy that I live now rather than then.

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  5. I have never been to the museums in Santa Fe (though I've only lived here in NM for 4 months.) Sounds like a lovely day trip! Are you living in Santa Fe, Kate? Or are you on an extended winter visit?

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  6. This sounds like a really interesting place to visit. And I like those statues. They're very lifelike.

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  7. Great monument! I can't even imagine how they survived it. The snow adds to the feeling of it.

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  8. Beautifully captured photos of the statues. I love to visit well done museums. Its a great way to learn about the area and history.
    Nice post Kate.

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  9. This is just wonderful. A beautiful sculpture and so stunning with a dusting of snow. Thanks for posting the map - that was SOME trail! Love the shots.

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  10. Over the years I have read a lot of different stories about the Santa Fe Trail and this piece fits right in.

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  11. Kate, you may be interested in how the Santa Fe Trail has a fond place in the collective memory of my family. Specifically, 30 years ago, my brother and sister-in-law were married at Signature Rock, a stopping point on the Santa Fe Trail. In the linked photo I'm in the back row, third from the left. Connie is in the front rows, the first from the left.

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