Palace of the Governors, Spanish colonial palace on Santa Fe Plaza, United States
The Palace of the Governors is an adobe building with thick walls and long wooden covered portals located on the north side of Santa Fe Plaza. The structure combines Spanish colonial and Pueblo architectural elements in its classic design.
Built in 1610, this structure is the oldest continuously occupied public palace in the continental United States. It originally served as the seat of Spanish colonial government in the region.
Native American artisans display and sell handcrafted silver jewelry, pottery, and traditional items under the covered portal every day. This ongoing practice reflects the continuation of skills passed down through families and communities over centuries.
The building is open daily except Mondays and functions as part of the New Mexico History Museum complex. Guided tours are available throughout the day for visitors seeking detailed information.
Lew Wallace finished the climactic Crucifixion scenes of Ben-Hur in the governor's study here during a spring 1879 thunderstorm, after returning from a tense meeting with Billy the Kid in Lincoln County. He worked by a shaded lamp behind shutters, fearing a bullet amid the Lincoln County War.
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