A Wheelchair-Accessible Santa Fe Walking Tour

The best way to see old town Santa Fe is on foot. That said, there are more than a few access obstacles in the historic heart of the city near the Plaza — an area that dates back some 400 years. On the other hand, with a little advance planning and careful route selection, it’s still possible to see the cultural highlights of this area with minimal walking. With that in mind, here’s a barrier-free Santa Fe walking — or rolling — tour, with stops at a number of accessible cultural attractions along the way.

St. Francis Cathedral

First up on the wheelchair-accessible Santa Fe walking tour is St. Francis Cathedral (cbsfa.org/), which is just a block from the Plaza. Just head east on Palace Avenue, then turn south on Cathedral Place. St. Francis Cathedral is on the left — you can’t miss it.

Built by Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy between 1869 and 1886, this Santa Fe landmark is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. And although there are steps up at the front of this Romanesque Revival building, there’s also ramp access on the left side. Inside, there’s barrier-free access throughout the church, with accessible seating in the chapel.

The center aisle is lined with Corinthian columns, and accented with graceful arches. A massive baptismal fountain sits near the center of the church, and the intricately carved main altar is a sight to behold. Top it off with the stations of the cross, an impressive collection of historic paintings, and stained glass windows that were imported from France, and you have a truly magnificent sanctuary.

Museum of Contemporary Native Arts

The Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (iaia.edu/mocna/), which is located across the Street from St. Francis Cathedral, is often overlooked by visitors, but it’s truly a must-see on any Santa Fe visit. And there’s a discounted admission for disabled visitors, and no charge for caregivers.

Although there are steps up to the front entrance, there’s curb-cut access and a barrier-free pathway to that same entrance from San Francisco Street. Inside, there’s plenty of room to maneuver a wheelchair through the spacious galleries which display select works from a 7,500-object collection of contemporary native art. From paintings, textiles and cultural arts, to sculptures, ceramics and jewelry, there’s something for just about everyone.

There’s also level access out to the first-floor courtyard which boasts an impressive collection of public art, and to the adjacent galleries which host a wide variety of rotating exhibits. And if you like what you see, don’t forget to stop in at the well-stocked gift shop on the way out.

Loretto Chapel

From the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, head south on Cathedral Place and take a right on Water Street and a left on the Old Santa Fe Trail, to what many folks consider one of the most mysterious sights in town — the Loretto Chapel (lorettochapel.com/). There’s level access to this beautiful chapel, where visitors can also admire the stained glass windows, the stations of the cross, the Italian-made altar, and of course the famous staircase to the choir loft that lacks any visible support.

The story behind the creation of the staircase is an age-old mystery. According to legend, the sisters of the chapel prayed to St Joseph — the patron saint of carpenters — for a way to access the then stair-less choir loft. Shortly thereafter an unknown carpenter appeared and constructed the spiral staircase, and left without payment. That was in 1878, and although a railing was added over the years for safety, the staircase remains as it was constructed — without any center or side support. Visitors can linger on as long as they want in the chapel, and enjoy the beauty of it all.

Palace of the Governors

One of the highlights of old Santa Fe is the Palace of the Governors (palaceofthegovernors.org), which was constructed in the early 17th century as Spain’s seat of government over what’s now known as the American Southwest. Designated as a Registered National Historic Landmark in 1960, today this historic building houses part of the state’s history museum.

As an added bonus, the stroll from the Loretto Chapel is very scenic. Just follow the Old Santa Fe Trail north past San Francisco Street, along the Plaza and over to the Palace of the Governors. Alternatively, you can cut through the Plaza; however even though the Plaza pathways are wide and level, there are some uneven brick sections that may be problematic for wheelchair-users.

You can’t miss the Palace of Governors, as it’s usually lined with a gaggle of Native American vendors selling their wares. And although that’s certainly worth a stop itself, it’s also worth a look inside. Access to the interior of this historic adobe structure is through the Lincoln Street entrance to the New Mexico History Museum, which is located next door on Lincoln Street. So save some time to the peruse the inside of this historic building which is filled with objects that have been unearthed by archaeologists, including pottery, utensils and weapons. The exhibits span two floors, with elevator access to the second floor, and there’s always an interesting rotating exhibition or two in the mix.

New Mexico History Museum

The New Mexico History Museum (nmhistorymuseum.org), which is located just around the corner, offers an equally impressive historic collection. There’s level access to the front door and ramped access to the exhibits. Wheelchairs are available for loan at the front desk, and there’s plenty of room to maneuver a wheelchair through the exhibition spaces, which feature a variety of artifacts that chronicle the history of the state.

Starting with the early settlers and Coronado, and moving on to the Mew Mexico Missions, the Santa Fe Trail and even the Santa Fe Harvey House, the museum offers a comprehensive look at the history of the indigenous people, Spanish Colonization and early travel and commerce in New Mexico. And combined with the Palace of the Governors, this modern museum gives visitors a good overview of the colorful — and sometimes contentious — state history.

New Mexico Museum of Art

The New Mexico Museum of Art (nmartmuseum.org), which is located just a block west of the Palace of the Governors, is also worth a stop. It’s just a short level roll down the street, and there’s curb-cut access to the wide level sidewalk along Palace Avenue, and level access over to the museum’s front entrance. There’s barrier-free access to all the galleries, and elevator access to the second floor.

This museum first opened in 1917, and many of the works that were exhibited on opening day are still part of the permanent collection. A good variety of rotating exhibitions are also presented throughout the year. And don’t miss the courtyard, which is dotted with murals by William Shuster. These frescoes, which were commissioned by the Federal Emergency Relief Agency in 1934, were created to honor the Pueblo Indians. It’s quite an impressive collection.

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum

Last but not least on this wheelchair-accessible Santa Fe walking Tour is the Georgia O’Keefe Museum (www.okeeffemuseum.org). From the New Mexico Museum of Art, continue west on Palace Avenue, take a right on Grant Street, and then turn left on Johnson Street. The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum is just a half-block up on the right.

Although O’Keeffe was born in Wisconsin, she fell in love with New Mexico when she visited Santa Fe in 1917. By 1934 she was spending her summers at Ghost Ranch, about an hour north of Santa Fe; and in 1949 she took up permanent residence in the state. To say she was a local favorite is an understatement. The museum was opened 11 years after her death in 1997, to honor her art and share it with the public.

Today there’s excellent wheelchair access throughout the galleries in the adobe building, which is a work of art itself. Admission is free for people with a disability, and half-price for their caregivers. There’s also a loaner wheelchair available at the front desk.

The museum’s permanent collection consists of over 3,000 O’Keeffe works which span the length of her career, from 1915 to 1984. The galleries are divided by decade and the works include everything from paintings of her beloved New Mexico, and large scale depictions of flowers, leaves and other natural forms, to New York cityscapes. Add in some rotating exhibits and you have a truly spectacular museum — and reason enough to add Santa Fe to your cultural bucket list.

Stay Near the Plaza

If you’re looking for an accessible hotel near this wheelchair-accessible Santa Fe walking tour, then look no further than the Chimayo Hotel emerginghorizons.com/a-wheelchair-accessible-santa-fe-lodging-choice/. It’s just a two-minute walk from the Palace of the Governors, on Washington Street. This historic property boasts a comfortable accessible suite, and it’s a great place to base yourself to explore old town Santa Fe. You can start this walking tour in the morning, have lunch, then take midday break at the hotel, before continuing your tour in the afternoon. Comfort, convenience and access, the Hotel Chimayo has it all. So check it out on your next Santa Fe visit.