In 1919, the Columbia Stage Society was formed "...for the purpose of encouraging and deveIoping musical, vocal, and dramatic talent in the city..." ( portion of a letter dated June 25, 1919 by John Neal, First Secretary of the Society). None of the creators of the Society were professional actors, directors, nor producers. Rather, they were just a group of plain folks who were interested in promoting the theater arts. Five years later (1924), the Town Theater was constructed under the auspices of the Society. This makes it the oldest community theater building in continuous use in America. Each year, open auditions are held for entry level participants to work with experienced theater arts veterans who volunteer their time in order to "...offer revivals of classic plays and Broadway style musicals." In addition to the Columbia Stage Society, the Town Theater plays host to the South Carolina Theatrical Association, the Youth Theater, and Summer Camps. For us, this is so reminiscent of the Cape Playhouse, a professional summer stock theater in Dennis, Massachusetts, where many of the best American actors (from Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, to Henry Fonda) began their careers.

The historic Town Theater , as it appears today with its distinctive two-story central arch, was built in 1924...

...and how it looked in the 1920's.

What an inviting main lobby. One could almost imagine a "theater in the round" being performed here.

Interior view of the "working part" of the theater from the first balcony.

While construction of the theater was completed in 1924, it had actually begun much earlier but was delayed by World War I. This photo showing the return of troops from the war signaled the resumption of construction.

Archival photo of the Youth Theater's production of "Willy Wonka's Kids."

    South Carolina's Governor's Mansion was originally built in 1855 as a residence for officers of the Arsenal Military Academy (sister school to the Citadel). Influenced by British Colonial plantations, this Federalist style building became the Governor's Mansion in 1868 and has served in that capacity ever since. For a brief period, in the late 1800's, the state leased the building to a private family who used it as a boarding house. The mansion is the only building to have survived, in tact, Sherman's burning of Columbia during the Civil War. Over the years, the building has undergone several renovations, and the property has been enlarged to its present 9 acres size. Included on the complex is the Lace House ( built in 1854, it became the Mansion's official guest house in the 1960's) and the Caldwell-Boylston House (built in 1830, it was purchased by the state in 1978 and is now used by the Governor's Mansion staff and as the Welcome Center for the complex). The public rooms of the Mansion itself contain silver, China, furniture, paintings, and documents depicting South Carolina's history. In 1970, the Governor's Mansion complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Built in 1855 as officers quarters for the Arsenel Military Academy, the design of the Governor's Mansion was constructed along the lines of British Colonial plantations. (Rank does have its privileges).

You can see the Federist style design throughout the building.

This navy blue dining room was one of my favorite rooms (because of the color)....

...it is used as the State Dining Room...

...although the Palmetto Dining Room is also nice (you can't have too many dining rooms).

Known as the "Hall of Governor's" , portraits of South Carolina's governors line the walls

We would have loved to have our own library (like this one) in our home!

The outer portion of the Governor's office...

...and the "inner sanctum."

Like all opulent mansions, there have to be elegantly designed gardens...

...with the requisite fountains.

William Glaze began his career in 1838 as a silversmith and jewelry maker. But by 1850, he had turned his interests towards ornamental iron manufacturing. Thus, was born the Palmetto Iron Works on Arsenal Hill. When the Civil War broke out, there were no gun manufacturers anywhere in the South. With the support of his friend, the then Governor of South Carolina, Glaze transformed his company into an armory (the first weapons foundry in Columbia) and began making muskets, rifles, pistols, and swords. Around the same time , he had persuaded Benjamin Flagg, a successful arms manufacturer in New England, to move his musket machinery to South Carolina. In addition, Glaze had bought pistol machinery from the Asa H. Waters and Company. By now, Glaze's company consisted of 15 buildings on the grounds of the Arsenal Academy, a state military school. This whole complex was destroyed when General Sherman's troops occupied and burned Columbia in 1865. By 1868, Glaze had gone bankrupt and all his assets were sold at a sheriff's auction. His former partner, George Shields, rebuilt the company in 1888 and it remained open until 1928. The city of Columbia bought the property in 1942 to preserve it as a museum. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. As we've mentioned several times in previous postings, we love history and it was a great delight for us to have the opportunity to learn about this bit of South Carolina's history.

The main Office of the Palmetto. iron Works and Armory.

Located on Arsenal Hill, , the armory was built on the grounds of the Arsenal Academy, a state military school.

Archival photograph of the manufacturing buildings showing some of the destruction caused by Sherman's troops...

...and the same building in its heyday.

The Palmetto Armory gun stamp.

Model 1841 percussion "Mississippi" rifle manufactured at the Palmetto Armory....

...and a model 1852 Palmetto Armory pistol.

Colonel Joseph Walker, served as Commander of Company K, 5th South Carolina Infantry Regiment (The Palmetto Sharpshooters Regiment). He surrendered at Appomattox with General Robert E. Lee.

    Every city has a major green space as its central tourist attraction; e.g. The Public Gardens in Boston, or Central Park in New York. Finlay Park in Columbia, South Carolina is the largest and best known attraction in the city. Covering 14 acres on Arsenal Hill, this was one of the first residential neighborhoods, and the site of a munitions foundry during the Civil War. The park was first dedicated in 1859 as "Sydney Park" (and named after a city Councilman). Following the Civil War, it fell into disrepair and the area turned into a commercial neighborhood. By 1899, it was renamed "Seaboard Park" in this largely industrial district. By the late 1900's, the area was regentrified and the park was refurbished. Now known as "Finlay Park" (after mayor Kirkland Finlay who was instrumental in revitalizing the area) it reopened in 1990. Popular as a shady retreat, Finlay Park sports a waterfall and plays host to summertime concerts. It is beautiful and completely relaxing.

In 1859, Finlay Park on Arsenal Hill, in Columbia, South Carolina, was one of the first residential neighborhoods in the city, and was originally called "Sydney Park."

Mayor Kirkland Finaly was dedicated to revitalizing this neighborhoodin the late 1900's and was instrumental in making this park a number one tourist attraction. As a result, the park was renamed in his honor and this statue of him was placed in the park.

To many, this fountain is the center piece of the park...

...but, personally, to us this waterfall is more stunning...

...and is more picturesque.

We couldn't think of a more relaxing spot to spend a Spring afternoon.

    Our 28th President, Thomas Woodrow Wilson, was born on December 28, 1856 to Joseph ( a prominent Presbyterian minister) and Jessie Wilson. After having earned a law degree, Wilson went on to receive one of the first Ph.Ds in Political Science from John's Hopkins University. Prior to becoming U.S. President, he served as president of Princeton University (1902-1910) and as Governor of New Jersey (1911-1913). During his formative years, Wilson's family lived in a home built (1871)by his father in Columbia, South Carolina. Even though the family moved around a bit because of the senior Wilson's ministerial obligations, the Columbia house was the only home the family ever owned. While the father designed and built this "cottage style" house, Jessie (his mother) designed the yard and gardens. Her landscape plans divided the grounds into a formal front yard and a working backyard (which included vegetable and flower gardens, a kitchen house, privy, and a carriage house). The family had planned on living here permanently, but in 1875 the elder Wilson was reposted to Wilmington, North Carolina. A grassroots movement developed in 1928 to save and preserve the home, which now serves as the only museum in America dedicated to interpreting the post-Civil War Reconstruction period (1865 to 1877). It opened to the public in 1932.

Welcome to the Woodrow Wilson Family home.

Photo of the Wilson Family Home as it looked shortly after the turn of the century...

...and how it looks today.

The front hall formal staircase is elegant in its simplicity...

....while the sitting room with its back staircase is more traditional.

Most of the furniture on display in the museum are period pieces, with just a few as being documented as actually belonging to the Wilsons.

As evidenced by this display, the parent's bedroom was the most lavish...

Woodrow was the third child of four siblings born to his parents.

This bay window looks out to the working gardens in the backyard...

...which Woodrow's mother designed.

Woodrow, with his wife and their three daughters.

    South Carolina's State House (located in Columbia) has had a storied history, some of it less than illustrious. Construction of the original building (in the Greek Revival style) began in 1851, but was quickly halted when the architect was fired "... because of fraud and dereliction of duty." As a result, this original structure was mostly demolished due to its poor construction. Reconstruction resumed in 1855 but was once again slowed during the Civil War. When Union Troops, under General William Tecumseh Sherman, occupied Columbia, the State House was damaged during the burning of the city. Building work was eventually completed in 1907 after several different architects had a hand in its design process. Covering eleven acres, the State House is home to the General Assembly of South Carolina, as well as the offices of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor. Until 1971, it also housed the State's Supreme Court. Several distinctive monuments decorate the grounds; one on the north side is the Confederate monument (South Carolina was the first state to cecede); on the east side is the African-American History monument; in addition, there are monuments to the Palmetto Regiment (formed during the Mexican-Anerican War),as well as for the Revoluntinary War generals (e.g. George Washington); and several memorializing important figures in South Carolina's history ( such as Strom Thurman). The State House was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976.

Situated on 11 acres of land, the Columbia State House is home to General Assembly of South Carolina, as well as the offices of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor.

One of six bronze stars on the State House, marking spots hit by General Sherman's canons during the Civil War.

An 1860's sketch of the original State House building.

South Carolina's General Assembly room.

South Carolina was the first state to cecede from the Union at the start of the Civil War. This monument is dedicated to the Confederate States of America during that conflict.

The Palemetto Regiment of Volunteers of South Carolina was an infantry regiment that distinquished itself during the Mexican-American War. In 1858, this monument, dedicated to their service , was erected on the grounds of the State House, making it the oldest monument here.

Part of the African-American Monument created in 2001 as a compromise that arose from the controversy surrounding the flying of the Confederate flag over the State House

James Strom Thurmond served as United States Senator from South Carolina for 48 years. This monument was erected in 1999 to honor him.

The next stop on our travels is Columbia, South Carolina. Developed at the junction of the Saluda and Broad Rivers (which then forms the Congaree River), Columbia would eventually become the capital and second largest city in the state. Prior to the arrival of the Europeans, the Native American Congaree had inhabited this area for centuries. By 1540, Fernando de Soto had explored the region and his journals are the earliest known written records of the area. Because of its central location, Columbia was established by the State General Assembly in 1786. Created in 1800, the Santee Canal System became the major transportation route between Columbia and Charleston. This was the earliest canal system in the country. In 1801, South Carolina College (later to become the University of South Carolina) was established to combat the growing trend of young men traveling to England to get higher education. By 1805, Columbia was incorporated as a village, and by 1854, as a city. With the arrival of the railroad, growth in the city skyrocketed, while the use of the canal system diminished. During the closing months of the Civil War (specifically February of 1865) much of Columbia was burned by Union troops, under the leadership of William Tecumseh Sherman. This promises to be an interesting visit.

The State Capital building...

and looking down Main Street from the front steps.

Built in 1855, this mansion serves as the residence for the Governor.

The original State House (built between 1786 and 1790) sat on this site until it was burned by a Union Troops in 1865.

Sketch of the 1865 burning of Columbia by Sherman's Union Troops.

Designated as the oldest house in Columbia, the Seibeles House was built circa 1796.

Named after former Mayor, Kirkman Finlay, the 14 acre Finlay Park is the largest, and most visited, in the downtown area.

Constructed in 1913, the Palmetto building is one of the iconic features of the downtown area.

The Santa Fe National Cemetery is one of the 147 such cemeteries around the country, administered by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

With over 59,000 interred here, this massive cemetery pays tribute to those New Mexicans who served their country.

We were fortunate to be able to attend the 2017 Memorial Day ceremony here in Santa Fe.

Speeches, such as this one by the Assistant Superintendent of the cemetery thanking those who care for the grounds and the graves, are a necessary part of such ceremonies.

Since both of our sons had served as Cadet Commanders of the local Civil Air Patrol in Massachusetts, it was nice to see the Santa Fe contingent taking part in this ceremony.

Following the hour-long service, we took time to explore the grounds and found several notable markers, such as this one from the Spanish-American War...

...and several of the nine Medal of Honor recipients buried here...

...but what was really important to us on this occasion was to be able find any of the graves of the World War II "Code Talkers", especially this one for the "Last of the Original 29 Navajo Code Talkers."

Chester Nez as a young Marine during World War II.

One of the more interesting stories we learned was surrounding this creation by Pvt. Dennis O'Leary. Soon after having gone AWOL for several weeks, O'Leary died at Fort Wingate in Gallop, New Mexico. Amongst his personal belongings was a note indicating the location of this sculpture he carved during the time of his absence. It was his last wish that this be used for his tombstone.

Also located atop Museum Hill is the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. Founded in 1909 by anthropologist Edgar Lee Hewett, its mission was to preserve the cultures of the Southwest Native American communities, in concert with members of those communities.Eighteen years later, John D. Rockefeller founded the "Laboratory of Anthropology" along similar lines. By 1947, the two institutions had merged, thus, creating "..the most inclusive and systematically acquired collection of New Mexican and Southwestern anthropological artifacts in the country." ( quoted from the museum's mission statement on its Web site). However, because of a lack of funding, an adequate building to house and display the collections of the two institutions was not available until 1987. This new combination included works of textiles, pottery, baskets, and contemporary art. In addition, the collections included artifacts that depicted New Mexico's everyday life. These collections number between an estimated 5 to 10 million items ("estimated" because many are stored as "bulk" collections). It probably comes as no surprise to many who know us, Lori and I have had a long-standing history of interest in Native American cultures. In light of that history, it was important for us to explore this interesting museum.

Administered inder the auspices of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture is one of two publicly owned depositories of art siting on top of Museum Hill.

Statue of Apache Warrior outside the Museum..

Native American Art entitled "To Sleep, Perchance to Dream."

Perhaps one of the most important aspects of southwestern Pueblo life was the proximity of a general store, an example of which is recreated here.

When we think about Native American Art from the Southwest, two items stick out; rugs...

...and handmade turquoise jewelry.

Coming in at a close second place is Native American pottery.

Called "Yarn Painting", this art form is something we had not encountered previously.

David Bradley is a Chippewa Native American who had lived for a time with the Navajos of Arizona. Currently living in Santa Fe, Bradley no longer paints because of suffering from ALS.

    Located on Museum Hill (accessed by a free shuttle bus from downtown Santa Fe), the Museum of International Folk Art was established in 1953 by Florence Diebell Bartlett. Now administered by the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, the museum's more than 135,000 artifacts are the largest collection of folk art in the world. Surrounded by beautiful vistas of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, this museum is comprised of four wings;

   GIRARD WING: showcases toys, dolls, textiles, beadwork, etc. from more than one hundred countries around the world;

   HISPANIC HERITAGE WING: established in 1988, this wing is the only Spanish/Hispanic art space in the state;

   NEUTROGENA COLLECTION; a group of more than 2500 pieces of ceramics and carvings from around the world which was donated by the CEO of Neutrogena, Lloyd Cotsen;

   BARTLETT WING; plays host to rotating exhibits.

The Museum of International Folk Art is one of those museums that can be accessed using the Cultural Pass - thus saving some money.

Situated on top of Museum Hill, with part of the Sangre de Cristo mountains in the background, the Museum of International Folk Art contains the world's largest collection of folk art...

...and is one of two public, and one private, museums on the hill.

One of the exhibits in the Girard Wing is this display of Neyalund, India artifacts. According to original beliefs, these woodcarved items are representative of the spirits active in the area.

Replica of a 19th century German town.

In Thailand, small houses in which spirits are believed to reside , such as this Spirit House, are erected entrance gates. The spirits are cared for and worshiped in the hope that they will ward off evil and bring good luck to the household.

Poster of Vincente Romero, considered the Godfather of Flamenco...

...and a 1965 photo of Jose Greco (Romero's inspirational role model) dancing with Lydia Torea in the film "Ship of Fools,"

Tramp Art, popular between 1870 and 1940, primarily consists of woodworking, usually from recycled materials, is distinquished by the use of layers and notches

During our travels over these past 2.5 (plus) years, we've met many interesting folks, visited numerous incredible places, and experienced multitudinous memorable things. As happens, sometimes, the shear volume of all of these experiences is more than what we can adequately cover in our blog postings. Our visit to New Mexico is one of those times. However, for this one instance, we'll try to rectify this issue by presenting some of those people,places, and things that did not fit neatly into any of the previous New Mexico blog pieces. We hope you enjoy this collage.

Occasionally, quite by accident, in the most ordinary of places, we meet the most interesting folks...

...J.T. Rockwell (aka "Montana") is one of those interesting folks we met in a Walmart! A horse trainer, stuntman, and actor, "Montana" trains horses for movie stunts. This fifth generation cowboy owns horse ranches in Montana (of course), Los Angeles , and Dubai.

We met Marco Serna, District Attorney for the First Judicial District of Santa Fe, while exploring a festival in the historic Santa Fe Railyard.

This unnamed local greeted us at the entrance of "Burro Alley" just a block away from the Santa Fe Plaza.

While traveling to Taos, we saw this "Balancing Rock" along the side of the road. (We wouldn't want to be near it when it falls!).

Every city we've visited exhibits its own style of street performers. These Native American drummers were entertaining folks along the edge of the Plaza.

Pinckney R. Tully, a Santa Fe Trader, built this ten room Adobe house in 1851 ( it now serves as an antique gallery)...

...but rather than keeping a traditional Adobe look, Tully had the exterior plaster painted to simulate fired brick.

No self-respecting southwestern cowboy would be caught without his Stetson hat!

Every Tuesday and Saturday since 1968, the Santa Fe Farmers' Market operates to an adoring public...

...where, in addition to getting fresh produce, you can see traditional rug weaving...

...or run into a "Spontaneous Poet" ( What is that contraption he is using?).

Someone needs to talk with the driver about his parking skills!

Art can be found "everywhere" in New 'Mexico.

Even an exhibit of art from the Prado (replicas of course) in the courtyard next to the St. Francis Cathedral.

Who would think that in the heart of Spanish Colonial America, we would find a French restaurant?

Intrigued, we had to try it. This Cordon Blue dish was delicious....

...while in Taos, we found a chocolatier from Argentina at the "Chokola, Bean to Bar " shop.

Along the way, we passed by part of the Rio Grande.

We even ran into Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.

Taos is situated in the high desert, in a tributary valley of the Rio Grande, along the Sangre de Cristo mountains. It has been inhabited by Taos Native American peoples since 1000 AD, making it one of the oldest, continuously occupied communities in the United States, and the most northern of the New Mexican pueblos. In the Taos language it is known as " place of red willows." Don Fernando de Taos established the first European settlements here in 1615. Relationships between the Europeans and the local natives were tenuous over the years, finally erupting in the widespread Pueblo Revolt of 1680. Governor Diego de Vargas finally defeated the rebellion in 1696 during the battle of Taos Canyon. During the 1770's, Comanches repeatedly raided the area until they were defeated by Governor Juan Bautista de Anzo in 1779. By 1797, sixty-three Spanish families had been given land grants. Collectively, they constructed a fortified plaza to help defend against any further problems. The 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ceded a large portion of New Spain (encompassing California, half of New Mexico, most of Arizona, Nevada, and Utah, along with parts of Wyoming and Colorado) to the United States. Mexicans living within these annexed areas were offered the opportunity to either relocate to within Mexico's new boundaries or become U.S. Citizenship. Records indicate that over 90% chose to become U.S. Citizens. Artists began to congregate in Taos around 1899, creating an art colony that exists to this day (some of those original studios have been preserved). New Mexico became the forty-seventh state in 1912. The popularity of Taos got another boost between 1970 and 1977 when the television show "McCloud" (about a U.S. Marshall from Taos - played by Dennis Weaver -) aired.

One note of caution; wishing to take a day trip to Taos from our base in Santa Fe (and not having our own transportation), we opted to take advantage of a free shuttle bus between the two locations. The trip took the better part of two hours each way, and because of scheduling for the return trip, there was not enough time to adequately enjoy the sights of Taos. So, unless your visit to New Mexico includes having your own car, this side trip may not be worth the effort for you.

On the northern edge of the city of Taos, this multi-level pueblo is the oldest, continuously inhabited community in the U.S.

One of the distinctive features of pueblos throughout this area is the bee-hive oven.

While the Spanish began settling the area around 1615, it was not until 1797 that the Taos Plaza was created.

Archival photo of how the Plaza looked in 1906.

Soon, the Plaza became the trading center and political stronghold of Northern New Mexico.

In the heart of Taos is the historic Taos Inn. Originally comprised of several adobe houses ,built in the 1800's, surrounding a central plaza with a community well (now the main lobby of the Inn with a fountain where the well once was), the largest building became the home (1890) of the county's one and only Doctor.: Dr. Thomas Paul Martin. When the only hotel in town burnt down, Doc. Martin's wife (Helen) began buying up the rest of the adobe house and rented them out. In 1936, following Doc. Martin's death, Helen bought the last of the houses and converted them into the "Hotel Martin" (later renamed the Taks Inn). Herself a gifted artist, Helen began to attract other local artists to the Inn, often hosting the Taos Society of Artists ( which was established by her brother-in-law, Bert Phillips and fellow artist Ernest Blumenschein). It's popular Thunderbird sign is the oldest remaining neon sign in Taos. According to the Inn's records, many notables visited the Inn, including Greta Gabo, D.H. Lawrence, Pawnee Bill, and more recently, Robert Redford and Jessica Lange.

The Taos Inn's famous Thunderbird neon sign.

The fountain within the lobby of the Taos Inn was once a community well in a central plaza surrounded by several Adobe houses (all now part of the hotel).

A small alcove off of the main dining room was once the birthing room for Doc. Martin's practice.

Local legend tells that the ghost of Arthur Manby (the man who sold Doc. Martin his home) haunts the area around room 109 of the Inn.

In any event, ghost or not, the food in "Doc. Martin's Restaurant" is delicious.

    Located in the high desert, just a one hour train ride (free on Wednesdays for Seniors) from Santa Fe, Albuquerque is New Mexico's largest city. Founded as the Spanish Colony of "Villa de Albuquerque" in 1706, it was named after Francisco, Duke of Albuquerque, who served as Vicroy of New Spain from 1653 until 1660. But before the Europeans had arrived, the Tanoan and Kereson Native American peoples had inhabited this area for centuries. Petroglyphs engraved into volcanic rock just west of the city give proof of their presence. After the arrival of the Europeans, Albuquerque became a sheep herding center of the west. "Old Town" Albuquerque was designed in the traditional Spanish pattern of a central plaza surrounded by government buildings, homes, and a church. Strategically located, Albuquerque was ideally suited for a military garrison. So, Mexico built one here in 1821. Between 1846 and 1863, the American military occupied the city, establishing their own Federal Garrison and Quartermaster depot. When the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe railroad arrived here in 1880, growth of the city exploded. Albuquerque was incorporated as a town in 1885 and as a city six years later.

Francisco, Duke of Albuquerque, Viceroy of New Spain between 1653 and 1660.

The heart of all Spanish colonies is the central Plaza, as this one in Albuquerque's "Old Town."

Of course, no Spanish plaza would be proper without a church along its edge; such as the San Felipe de Neri church in Old Town, Albuquerque.

Built in 1793, it is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the city.

Throughout "Old Town" are monuments to its Spanish heritage.

Known now as the "Church Street Cafe", Casa de Ruiz (meaning "the house of Ruiz") is a local eatery legend.

Built in the early 1700's as a residence for the Ruiz family, it has remained in the family ever since. It did not become a restaurant until 1991. And what a great restaurant it is. Not only is the food delicious, it is also quite reasonable.

A short distance from Old Town is the "new" Albuquerque Plaza.

For the third time during our adventures, we were able to stand on part of the historic Route 66.

As a State Capital, Santa Fe presented us with a constant array of surprises. Because of the architecture and lay out of the city, we felt we were in the middle of a Western movie set. This certainly also held true with the New Mexico Museum of Art. Built in the Pueblo Revival Style during 1917, one block from the Plaza, it is not as big as some of the other art museums we've visited around the world. However, it is just as impressive. This is the oldest art museum in New Mexico and is one of eight operated by the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. Its more than 20,000 works present the talents of the historic Taos and Santa Fe art colonies of the past one hundred years, as well as contemporary artists from around the world. The museum's St. Francis auditorium plays host to the Santa Fe Community Orchestra and the annual Santa Fe Music Festival. Until now, we've not been exposed to very much Native American Art. I must admit that we were pleasantly surprised.

The oldest art museum in New Mexico is just one block from the Plaza.

Built in the Pueblo Revival architectural style, it is an impressive building.

Art greets you on the walls surrounding the entrance court yard in the form of several murals; including this ,one entitled "The Voice of the Water" by Will Shuster (1934).

Not sure if it truly is considered an art form, but the ubiquitous hanging chili peppers decorate rafters everywhere you look.

We found that even the ceiling became part of the museum's art.

Sheldon Parsons' "Santa Fe Mountains in October."

Local artist Esquipulo Romero de Romero captured a lot of the symbolism of the Southwest in this piece entitled "The Black Shawl" (1933).

The one thing that struck us was the use of vibrant colors in the works of the Taos and Santa Fe art colonies, such as in this piece entitled "Low Rider

While not necessarily my favorite piece, the skill of the artist that created this sculpture can be readily seen in the delicate features of the hands and the folds in the shawl.

Now this piece I liked. It is entitled "Cu Cui Bono?" (literally "For Whose Benefit"), it was painted by Gerald Cassidy in 1911.

Frank Applegate's "Hopi Snake Dance" seems to capture the reverence of this Native American ceremony.

The St. Francis auditorium hosts the Santa Fe Community Orchestra, as well as the annual Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival.