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San Miguel Chapel: then and now

1873 vs Today · Santa Fe, NM

San Miguel Chapel, TodaySan Miguel Chapel, 1873
NowThen
Then, 1873Timothy O'Sullivan photographed the chapel in 1873.Photo: Timothy H. O'Sullivan · Public domain · Source · resized, cropped
Today, TodayThe adobe chapel on Old Santa Fe Trail.Photo: Dorothy Harris · CC BY 2.0 · Source · resized

The story

Wikipedia says the first church on this spot was probably built shortly after Santa Fe was founded in 1610, and was first mentioned in writing in 1628. It served the mostly Native and Tlaxcalan people living in the Barrio de Analco across the river.

The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 burned the mission. When Diego de Vargas led the Spanish back in 1692, he found it burned but fixable. The church was rebuilt in 1710.

The wooden altar screen, called a reredos, was added in 1798. It holds a statue of Saint Michael that dates to at least 1709. The chapel is often called the oldest church building in the continental United States.

Did you know? The chapel was rebuilt after being burned in 1680.
Historians argue about this. "Oldest church" is a popular claim. Wikipedia says it is often called that, and that the building was rebuilt, so the age depends on what counts.

Fact or tall tale?

Sources

More: Look for historic photos at the Library of Congress

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More in Santa Fe

Next: Palace of the Governors. Written from the cited sources, not yet walked on site unless noted.