ABSTRACT
In 1912, the first year of New Mexico statehood, Santa Fe civic debate often centered on the issue of the culturally destructive acts of newcomer developers. The "modern conquistadors" as they were called, had been rapidly extending the boundaries of the ancient city during New Mexico's Territorial period 1848-1912. Mayor Arthur Seligman responded to civic leaders' demands for contextually sensitive development by creating the Civic Center and City Planning Board on March 9, 1912. Harry Howard Dorman's had successfully mixed new methods of construction with tradition and craft. The vision of Edgar Hewett, Sylvanus Morley, Arthur Seligman, Henry Dorman, Jesse Nusbaum, and others gave to us the preservation of a city concept that still retains the city of Santa Fe as unique in the country. If these men and women of vision had not seized the opportunity of the year, the first of New Mexico's statehood, the traditions of Santa Fe architecture might have been lost forever.
