Don Diego de Vargas Statue Returns to Public Display

Don Diego de Vargas Statue Returns to Public Display

SANTA FE - City of Santa Fe residents and visitors can now view the Don Diego de Vargas statue at the New Mexico History Museum. The temporary educational exhibit is open and will be free of charge to view. The statue has not been on public display since June 2020. It also safeguarded the statue from potential damage.

Originally, the statue of Don Diego de Vargas, sculpted by artist Donna Quasthoff, stood in Cathedral Park in downtown Santa Fe beginning in 2007. Discussions between the All Pueblo Council of Governors, Los Caballeros de Vargas, the City of Santa Fe, and the State of New Mexico explored the possibility of returning de Vargas to public display. At the request of Los Caballeros de Vargas, the New Mexico History Museum agreed to accept the statue from the City of Santa Fe in the spring of 2024. In June 2024, the Santa Fe City Council approved the plan for the de Vargas statue to be on display at the museum. The agreement is on a short-term basis, up to four years, provided that the statue is displayed in a holistic and contemporary context.

Mayor Alan Webber said, "Today we achieved an important milestone for our city: The statue of Don Diego de Vargas has been returned to public view. I'm grateful to the Caballeros de Vargas, to the Pueblo of Tesuque, and to the New Mexico History Museum for their outstanding collaboration in making this a reality. Of course, getting the statue placed in the museum is just the first step. Now we need to lean into the opportunity for education, discussion, listening, and learning that the statue's placement enables."

New Mexico's colonial history is a layered legacy, marked by conquest, settlement, resistance, and adaptation. The Don Diego de Vargas Exhibit is intended to acknowledge the complex past and to encourage research, critical thinking, and empathy. The role of the New Mexico History Museum is that of a facilitator.

New Mexico History Museum's purpose is to promote understanding of the present and of future possibilities through meaningful encounters with New Mexico's past. Billy Garrett, the Executive Director of the New Mexico History Museum said, "The de Vargas installation is intended to be a place where people can reflect on the complexities of New Mexico history. A lot of work has gone into creating this space in just six short weeks. Over time we may identify ways to improve the experience, but for now I'm happy that we're able to add this exhibit to the range of things visitors can do in the museum."

Additional elements of the exhibit include a short overview of 17th century New Mexico, suggestions for personal research, and opportunities for people to share their thoughts about historical figures, monuments, and the de Vargas statue. Prompts for the feedback include: what can we learn from historical figures and whose stories does this statue represent, and whose are missing?

Gary Delgado, Presidente of Los Caballeros de Vargas said, "The Caballeros de Vargas share the excitement with our fellow Santa Feans that the sculpture of Don Diego de Vargas will now be brought back into public display. This was made possible through our collaboration with New Mexico Department of Culture Affairs, the New Mexico History Museum, and the City of Santa Fe. We can now once again be able to use this statue as a tool for learning and educating everyone on the rich History Santa Fe has to offer. This is a temporary installation, and we will be working with our community to find a permanent place that will be able to house the sculpture in a respectful and safe location."

A September 2018 proclamation that reframed the Entrada from a multi-cultural perspective will be on display at the exhibit. It is signed by the Chairman of the All Pueblo Council of Governors, the President of Los Caballeros de Vargas, Mayor Alan Webber, the Archbishop of Santa Fe, and the President of the Fiesta Council, Inc. The proclamation reads in part, "We acknowledge the past and its trauma, tragedy, and sorrow; we understand its legacy in the present. We acknowledge wounds older and deeper than any on this continent. On behalf of those from the past who cannot ask forgiveness, we do so now…"

Context is also provided by a quote on display from the Monument Lab: "Monuments serve as powerful tools for shaping public memory. They communicate what a society deems important and worthy of commemoration. But these narratives are often incomplete or one-sided, failing to represent the full complexity of history.

Garrett said, "The de Vargas statue is a piece of public art associated with a period of colonization, settlement, resistance, and adaptation. Our hope is that this modest temporary exhibit will encourage people to do their own research into that difficult time, to think critically about the past and its implications, and to share their thoughts with one another about the statue, our past, and how we represent history."

Public access for the Don Diego de Vargas exhibit is being provided by the Museum at no cost. Visitors can stop by the front desk of the New Mexico History Museum to inquire about non-admission viewing access to the statue. Visitors will receive a stamp on their hand and instructions on where to view the statue. To visit the rest of the museum, regular admission rates apply. Admission is free to New Mexico residents with ID the first Sunday of each month, as well as from 5-7pm every Friday, May - October. New Mexico senior citizens 60 and older are free on Wednesdays. Children 16 and younger are always free. For more information on admission visit nmhistorymuseum.org.

Share