Willa Cather's Walking Tour in Santa Fe
On this 2.5-hour walking tour, we’ll explore how author Willa Cather was inspired to write her "best book" (her words), "Death Comes for the Archbishop" by retracing her steps through Santa Fe in 1925 and 1926.
Our walking route covers about 1.5 miles, mostly on sidewalks, but also climbs a hill to the Cross of the Martyrs with its outstanding view of the city below. During our time together, we'll explore aspects of the novel, such as Kit Carson, Padre Antonio José Martínez, and of course Archbishop Jean-Baptiste Lamy, New Mexico's first Catholic archbishop and the real-life inspiration for the fictional Bishop Latour in Cather's book. We will learn about Sister Blandina Segale who helped set up a hospital in Lamy's house, and visit the last remnant of Lamy's six-acre garden behind the St. Francis Cathedral in the peaceful Stations of the Cross Prayer Garden.
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Willa Cather's Walking Tour in Santa Fe
What's included in Willa Cather's Walking Tour in Santa Fe
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
Santa Fe Plaza
We'll gather at the Plaza opposite La Fonda, the hotel where Cather and her partner Edith Lewis stayed during their visits. Cather has become an LGBTQ+ icon since the publication of her letters in 2013, and during this experience we will read from her letters, interviews, and articles, in addition to seeing historic footage of Santa Fe.
Cross of the Martyrs
We explore Cather's inspiration to write "Death Comes for the Archbishop" through several readings from her articles, interviews, and letters.
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
We conclude our tour at Lamy statue in front of the St. Francis Cathedral, which Cather wrote helped inspire her to write the novel.
Inclusions
- Charming guide
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
You will make your own way to the meeting points
Meeting Points
- We meet at the southeast corner of the Plaza opposite La Fonda. There is shade and park benches.
End Points
- We conclude the tour by the Lamy statue in front of the St. Francis Cathedral.
