The Soldier’s Monument in the Santa Fe Plaza has a long and controversial history. The State Library receives regular requests for information on this topic. Below is a very brief history and links to documents relating to the monument.
The monument was first conceived by the Territorial Legislature as part of an effort to memorialize soldiers killed during the invasion of Texas in 1862.
The Soldiers' Monument, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Creator: Byron H. Gurnsey, ca. 1872-1880
LAWS OF THE TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO
PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
Session of 1866-67.
JOINT RESOLUTION.
Be it resolved by the Council, the House of Representatives concurring therein, That the committee to erect monuments to the dead soldiers who were killed in this Territory during the late rebellion, be and are hereby fully authorized to expend the fifteen hundred dollars appropriated in an act approved this day, in such manner a s they may deem proper, in the erection of one monument or more, at such place or places as they may deem best. (pg. 108)
Despite being literally written in stone there have been calls for changes to the monument dating back to at least 1888 with some people wanted to change the work rebel with confederate.
Santa Fe new Mexican. (Santa Fe, N.M.), 18 Feb. 1899. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
In 1967, during plans to redesign the plaza, architect John Meem wanted to move the monument to “to the new State Capitol, thus permitting the City of Santa Fe to restore the center of the Plaza to its former function as the center of civic festivities.” This effort failed. DeVolder, Arthur L.. "John Gaw Meem, F.A.I.A.: An Appreciation." New Mexico Historical Review 54, 3 (2021).
"it is like an ugly child, you love it like it is." -John Meem, New Mexican, July 26, 1973
In 1925 Twitchell wrote “The laying of the corner-stone of this monument in the Santa Fé plaza was made the occasion of an elaborate and impressive ceremony, in which the governor of the Territory of Colorado, the soldiers of Colorado regiments" and the “people of the territory of Colorado generally,” were invited to participate. The corner-stone was laid by the officers of Montezuma Lodge No. 109 of Santa Fé. A large number and variety of documents and other articles were deposited in it, among which was a parchment bearing the names of all the Union officers who fought in the battles of Valverde, Gloriéta and Perálta. It was also intended that a complete list of all of the dead to whom the memorial was raised be deposited but these could not be obtained at the time.” Old Santa Fe : the story of New Mexico's ancient capital / compiled, edited and written, with translations, by Ralph Emerson Twitchell.