Cross of the Martyrs

The Cross of the Martyrs commemorates the twenty-one Franciscan friars and approximately 380 Spanish colonists killed during the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. Dedicated during the Santa Fe Fiesta of 1920, this Cross was highlighted at annual Fiestas and pilgrimages honoring fallen ancestors until it was replaced by a new monument at Fort Marcy Park in 1960. Standing 25 feet high, 8 feet wide, and weighing 76 tons, the Cross was constructed of reinforced concrete by the Midland Bridge Company of Kansas City, Missouri. Besides serving as memorials, both monuments represent a complicated and contested history of Spanish settlement and the resulting exploitation and oppression of the local Native populations. The local neighborhood donated the Cross to the HSFF in 1993 to ensure its preservation and maintenance.

From Old Santa Fe Today, 5th edition by Audra Bellmore with photographs by Simone Frances.

A note from HSFF:

In the continuing discussion of colonial injustices and current racial prejudices, the subjects of monuments, their place and messages, has become a subject that is rightfully being addressed, discussed, and, in some cases, the monuments and statues deemed inappropriate are being modified or removed. The Franciscans were perhaps the most forceful element for the reconquest of New Mexico. That history must be recognized. Santa Fe is not the “city different” in its history of colonial occupation and we should not be afraid of acknowledging so. The Historic Santa Fe Foundation (HSFF), owner and steward of this monument, considered the cross’s place in history in light of the cultural concerns and social protests in 2020. We invite the public to reflect on the meaning of the monument and to share their thoughts on the Cross of the Martyrs by completing the form below.