La Fonda on the Plaza, the 102-year-old hotel in the heart of downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico, has been offering free tours of its art collection for 12 years. With so many new and returning visitors in Santa Fe for Indian Market, August always provides a great opportunity to introduce new audiences to the large and easily accessible art collection.
“I do enjoy all the markets and festivals,” says Ed Pulsifer, the hotel’s historian. “When you have the largest gathering of Native American artists in the world outside your doors, the energy throughout Santa Fe can get quite high. We love bringing in tourists, some coming in from around the world, during this unique time in August.”
Craig George (Navajo (Diné)), Washing Away the Past, oil on canvas
Pulsifer organizes a group of 50 docents who can give tours of the property’s large Western and Native American art collection. The tours run just over an hour and feature many of the highlights including the famous Gerald Cassidy paintings in the lobby, works by Sheldon Harvey and Marla Allison in common rooms, Ira Lujan glass in several locations, historic weavings in hallways and much more. The tours are held Monday through Saturday at 10:30 a.m. Reservations can be made with the hotel’s concierge. Larger private tours are also offered for special events and large groups. The tours are free to all, even those who aren’t guests at the hotel.
Tony Abeyta (Navajo (Diné)), Painted Horses, acrylic on canvas
“In addition to talking about the individual pieces of art, we also talk a lot about the history of the property, which is the oldest lodging corner in the United States, and also about Fred Harvey since La Fonda was a Harvey Hotel from 1926 to 1968. We also touch on Mary Colter, one of the most prominent architects in the Southwest, and John Gaw Meem, who had a huge impact on New Mexico’s architectural history,” Pulsifer says. “And then of course, guests also get to see many of the 1,200 pieces of art, including some in areas that guests don’t get to normally walk through.”
Del Curfman (Crow Tribe of Montana), Faces of Our Future
Pulsifer adds that all of his docents are volunteers, but they will accept tips. “They do accept gratuity, but they don’t keep it. Instead, they put it in a fund and then donate all of their tips to different non-profits,” he adds. “One year they gave all the money to the Santa Fe Food Depot. Recently they gave the money to communities affected by wildlife.”
La Fonda on the Plaza in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The 102-year-old hotel with a 1,200-piece art collection.
La Fonda on the Plaza, which is home to the Sovereign show every August during the same weekend as Santa Fe Indian Market, is in the middle of several key expansions and developments. One is the revamped Old Santa Fe Inn, now called Piñon Court, just southwest of La Fonda. The inn was acquired in 2022 by the same company that owns La Fonda. Another new development, one still in the works, is a large, new mural by painter George Alexander, which is expected to be completed in late 2024.
For information about La Fonda, including the docent-led art and history tours, contact the hotel at (505) 982-5511.
Native American Art magazine is a frequent media sponsor and supporter of La Fonda on the Plaza.
Monday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m.
La Fonda on the Plaza’s Art & History Tours
La Fonda on the Plaza 100 E. San Francisco Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 982-5511, www.lafondasantafe.com
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