Pete Domenici: “Next year, 1998, is the 400th anniversary of Don Juan de Onate's establishment of the first Hispanic colony in New…”

“Next year, 1998, is the 400th anniversary of Don Juan de Onate's establishment of the first Hispanic colony in New Mexico. In July 1589, he and a few Spanish families settled near modern day San Juan Pueblo and the city of Espanola in northern New Mexico. New Mexico will be the center of many exciting events throughout the year to commemorate this extremely important historic milestone. Four hundred years ago Western civilization found itself ensconced in northern New Mexico, and since that time to the present it has been there and part of the culture and part of the value system in the State of New Mexico. New Mexicans are looking forward to fiestas, balls, parades, and other stimulating events to mark this historic occasion. The Archbishop of Santa Fe will be opening a Jubilee year in January. Among other events, he will hold an encuentro at Santo Domingo Pueblo to mark the meeting of the missionaries with the Pueblo Peoples. The city of Espanola will have a fiesta in July to commemorate the actual arrival of the Spanish into the area. Santa Fe, Las Vegas, Taos, Albuquerque, and other New Mexico towns and cities will be holding such special events as fiestas, historic reenactments, a State Fair Pageant, an historic Spanish costume ball, and parades. Seminars and lectures will abound.”