Santa Fe: History of an Ancient City, Revised and Expanded Edition

Great photographs. Makes a great gift for anyone interested in southwest history

How is it possible to publish a history book without footnotes or endnotes? I understand the goal was to write a history for the masses, but it comes across as shoddy--especially when one takes into consider the pedigrees of the authors. Basically the writers and editor of this anthology say, Trust us--it all happened the way we say. The only consistent attributions given are for photo credits. True, there's a list "for further reading," but those references are often out of date, with many from the 1920's to '40's. All in all a bit of shoddy effort.

An excellent introduction to the history of this important place. The writing by all of the contributors is clean and coherent. If you are interested in getting to know Santa Fe, this history is a great place to start.

My second copy given to a friend.

Being a work of many authors, it presents a comprehensive view of Santa Fe's long and interesting history. The photos used add a great deal to the interest of the book. Reading this book was time well spent in preparation for a Santa Fe visit.

Lovely history of the city.

the 1989 edition is worthwhile in itself, although the 2008 update provides additional information. While this looks like a coffee table tourist book, it has terrific essays by the most highly regarded New Mexico historians, including Hordes, Simmons, Bustamante, Kessel, Sanchez, Levine, Wilson, and Arnold. Stanley Hordes providesis a lit review of published histories of Santa Fe, pointing out surprisingly that the only two comprehensive attempts were done in 1925 and 1958, so this book is the most significant history of Santa Fe since 1958. Each of the essays is based on the most recent research as of 1989. There are photos and reproductions of art on almost every page, several old maps showing how the city has changed, and several color photographs and reproductions, all on generous sized pages. all in all, a significant book on Santa Fe history as of 1989, although I would recommend that you buy the 2008 revision. I hope that it will again be updated for new research since the 2008 articles were written.

The chapter edited by Tara Plewa remains one of the most enlightened discourses on the Santa Fe River that I have ever read. Plewa is a brilliant writer, with a knack for detailing this area and its history is an unparalleled manner... this one is not to be missed, and be on the lookout for anything that Plewa writes!