# Santa Fe National Cemetery

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Historic veterans cemetery in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe National Cemetery Santa Fe National Cemetery, 2008 Interactive map of Santa Fe National Cemetery Details Established 1870 (1870) Location Santa Fe, New Mexico Country United States Coordinates 35°41′54″N 105°56′56″W / 35.69833°N 105.94889°W / 35.69833; -105.94889 Type United States National Cemetery Owned by US Department of Veterans Affairs Size 84.3 acres (34.1 ha) No. of interments > 68,000 Website Official Find a Grave Santa Fe National Cemetery Santa Fe National Cemetery U.S. National Register of Historic Places Show map of New Mexico Show map of the United States Location 501 N. Guadalupe St., Santa Fe, New Mexico Coordinates 35°41′54″N 105°56′56″W / 35.69833°N 105.94889°W / 35.69833; -105.94889 NRHP reference No. 16000588[1] Added to NRHP September 6, 2016

**Santa Fe National Cemetery** is a [United States National Cemetery](/source/United_States_National_Cemetery_System) in the city of [Santa Fe](/source/Santa_Fe%2C_New_Mexico), in [Santa Fe County, New Mexico](/source/Santa_Fe_County%2C_New_Mexico). It encompasses 84.3 acres (34.1 ha), and as of 2021, had 68,000 interments. Administered by the [United States Department of Veterans Affairs](/source/United_States_Department_of_Veterans_Affairs), it is one of two national cemeteries in [New Mexico](/source/New_Mexico) (the other being [Fort Bayard](/source/Fort_Bayard_National_Cemetery)). It was listed on the [National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places) in 2016.[2]

## History

The first known burial in the cemetery occurred in 1868 prior to the formal establishment of the land as a national cemetery.[2] Though [New Mexico](/source/New_Mexico) only played a small part in the [American Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War), the cemetery was created after the war to inter the [Union](/source/Union_(American_Civil_War)) soldiers who died fighting there, primarily at the [Battle of Glorieta Pass](/source/Battle_of_Glorieta_Pass). The [Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Santa_Fe) donated the land to the federal government in 1870. In 1876 its status was changed to a post cemetery, but in 1885 it became a national cemetery once again. The remains of Governor [Charles Bent](/source/Charles_Bent), the first American governor of the Territory of New Mexico, were among 47 bodies removed in 1895 from the old Masonic Cemetery in Santa Fe to the national cemetery. Between 1896 and 1912, the government moved remains here from several abandoned forts which had small post cemeteries including [Apache](/source/Fort_Apache_(military_post)) and [Grant](/source/Fort_Grant%2C_Arizona) in Arizona, Hatch and [Wingate](/source/Fort_Wingate) in New Mexico, and Duchesne in Utah among many other smaller posts. In 1953, the government acquired an additional 25 acres, bringing the cemetery to 34 acres.[3] On June 23, 1987, the remains of 31 Confederate soldiers of the Texas Mounted Volunteers who were killed or died as a result of wounds during the Battle of Glorieta Pass were discovered in a mass grave on the battlefield. Three were identified and 28 who could not be identified were reburied in Section K together.[4] In 2007 the remains of sixty-four federal soldiers and civilians discovered by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation at the site of [Fort Craig](/source/Fort_Craig) were relocated to here.[5] In 2017 the Veterans Administration was unsuccessful in purchasing six acres of land adjacent to the cemetery and current estimates are that the site will be at capacity before 2030.[6]

## Notable monuments

- Memorial made of granite and bronze dedicated to [World War II](/source/World_War_II) Glider Pilots, erected in 1994.

- Memorial to "Women Who Served in the Navy" erected in 1995.

- The China-Burma-India Veterans Memorial, dedicated to World War II veterans, erected in 2002.

- The Navajo Code Talkers Memorial, erected in 2013.

## Notable interments

Main category: [Burials at Santa Fe National Cemetery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Burials_at_Santa_Fe_National_Cemetery)

- [Medal of Honor](/source/Medal_of_Honor) recipients - Watertender [Edward A. Clary](/source/Edward_A._Clary), for peace time service on board [USS Hopkins](/source/USS_Hopkins_(DD-6)) - Private [Edwin L. Elwood](/source/Edwin_L._Elwood), for action in Arizona Territory during the [Indian Wars](/source/Indian_Wars) - Specialist Four [Daniel D. Fernandez](/source/Daniel_D._Fernandez), for action during the [Vietnam War](/source/Vietnam_War) - Corporal [Jacob Guenther](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jacob_Guenther&action=edit&redlink=1), for action in Arizona Territory during the [Indian Wars](/source/Indian_Wars) - Second Lieutenant [Raymond G. Murphy](/source/Raymond_G._Murphy) USMC, for action in [Korea](/source/Korea) on February 3, 1953 - Corporal [Thomas Murphy](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_Murphy_(Medal_of_Honor,_1869)&action=edit&redlink=1), US Army, for action in the Indian Wars - [Yuma Indian](/source/Quechan) and Army Scout Sergeant [Y. B. Rowdy](/source/Y._B._Rowdy), for action in [Arizona Territory](/source/Arizona_Territory) during the [Indian Wars](/source/Indian_Wars) - Captain [Robert S. Scott](/source/Robert_S._Scott), for action in World War II - Private First Class [Jose F. Valdez](/source/Jose_F._Valdez), for action during World War II

- Others - Captain [George Nicholas Bascom](/source/George_Nicholas_Bascom), Union officer killed in the [Battle of Val Verde](/source/Battle_of_Val_Verde) in 1862 - Governor [Charles Bent](/source/Charles_Bent), first American governor of [New Mexico Territory](/source/New_Mexico_Territory) - Lieutenant Colonel [José Francisco Chaves](/source/Jos%C3%A9_Francisco_Chaves), [Union Army](/source/Union_Army) officer during the [American Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War), [U.S. Representative](/source/U.S._Representative) from the [New Mexico Territory](/source/New_Mexico_Territory) - [John O. Crosby](/source/John_Crosby_(conductor)), musician, conductor and arts administrator, U.S. Army Veteran - Forrest Fenn, US Air Force pilot and the person behind the [Fenn treasure](/source/Fenn_treasure). - [Tony Hillerman](/source/Tony_Hillerman), novelist and journalist - [Van Dorn Hooker](/source/Van_Dorn_Hooker), University architect for the [University of New Mexico](/source/University_of_New_Mexico) - [Patrick J. Hurley](/source/Patrick_J._Hurley), Major General, [World War I](/source/World_War_I) and World War II, U.S. Ambassador to China from (1944–45), and [Secretary of War](/source/United_States_Secretary_of_War) for President [Herbert Hoover](/source/Herbert_Hoover) - [James B. Jones](/source/James_B._Jones), [lieutenant governor of New Mexico](/source/Lieutenant_Governor_of_New_Mexico)[7] - [Jack P. Juhan](/source/Jack_P._Juhan), Marine Corps Major General - [Oliver La Farge](/source/Oliver_La_Farge), 1930 [Pulitzer Prize](/source/Pulitzer_Prize) winning author of the novel *Laughing Boy*, Army Major during [World War II](/source/World_War_II) - [Francis W. Nye](/source/Francis_W._Nye), Air Force Major General during [World War II](/source/World_War_II) and [Korean War](/source/Korean_War) - [James P. Riseley](/source/James_P._Riseley), Marine Corps Lieutenant General - [William G. Ritch](/source/William_G._Ritch), acting Governor of the New Mexico Territory, member of the [Wisconsin State Senate](/source/Wisconsin_State_Senate) - [John Bristol Speer](/source/Jack_Speer), attorney, judge, politician, and writer - [Roy Tackett](/source/Roy_Tackett), Marine Corps [Master Sergeant](/source/Master_sergeant#U.S._Marine_Corps) credited with the introduction of Sci-Fi to Japan and co-founder of [Bubonicon](/source/Bubonicon) - [Valentin de Vargas](/source/Valentin_de_Vargas), actor, U.S. Army veteran. - [Rebecca Welles](/source/Rebecca_Welles), American television and film actress - [Frank Chee Willeto](/source/Frank_Chee_Willeto), [Navajo code talker](/source/Navajo_code_talker), [Congressional Silver Medal](/source/Congressional_Silver_Medal) recipient and [Vice President of the Navajo Nation](/source/Vice_President_of_the_Navajo_Nation) (1998–1999)[8]

## See also

- [National Register of Historic Places portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:National_Register_of_Historic_Places)

- [National Register of Historic Places listings in Santa Fe County, New Mexico](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Santa_Fe_County%2C_New_Mexico)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NPS_weekly_1-0)** ["National Register of Historic Places Program: Weekly List"](https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/upload/weekly-list-2016-national-register-of-historic-places.pdf) (PDF). [National Park Service](/source/National_Park_Service). September 23, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto_2-1) ["National Register of Historic Places - Registration Form - Santa Fe National Cemetery"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210624200125/https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/pdfs/16000588.pdf) (PDF). Archived from [the original](https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/pdfs/16000588.pdf) (PDF) on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Administration, National Cemetery. ["VA.gov | Veterans Affairs"](https://www.cem.va.gov/pdf/InterpretiveSigns/SantaFeNationalCemetery.pdf#:~:text=property+was+designated+Santa+Fe+National+Cemetery+on,the+government+moved+remains+here+from+abandoned+forts) (PDF). *www.cem.va.gov*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Santa Fe National Cemetery - National Cemetery Administration"](https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/santafe.asp).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Feds Quietly Dig Up 67 Civil War Graves"](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/feds-quietly-dig-up-67-civil-war-graves/). CBS News. April 9, 2008. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["200 acres sought for new veterans' cemetery"](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jan/29/200-acres-sought-for-new-veterans-cemetery/). *[The Washington Times](/source/The_Washington_Times)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Services Set For J.B. Jones on Wednesday"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115125701/obituary-for-james-b-jones/). *Santa Fe New Mexican*. United Press. August 11, 1947. p. 1. Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-dh_8-0)** Simonich, Milan (July 2, 2012). ["Navajo Code Talker Willeto laid to rest"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140714140331/http://www.demingheadlight.com/deming-news/ci_20991929/navajo-code-talker-willeto-laid-rest). *[Texas-New Mexico Newspapers](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Texas-New_Mexico_Newspapers&action=edit&redlink=1)*. [The Deming Headlight](/source/The_Deming_Headlight). Archived from [the original](http://www.demingheadlight.com/deming-news/ci_20991929/navajo-code-talker-willeto-laid-rest) on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 13, 2012.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Santa Fe National Cemetery](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Santa_Fe_National_Cemetery).

- [National Cemetery Administration](http://www.cem.va.gov/)

- [Santa Fe National Cemetery](https://www.cem.va.gov/CEM/cems/nchp/santafe.asp)

- [Historic American Landscapes Survey](/source/Heritage_Documentation_Programs#Historic_American_Landscapes_Survey) (HALS) No. NM-4, "[Santa Fe National Cemetery](https://loc.gov/pictures/item/nm0304/)"

- [U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Santa Fe National Cemetery](https://gnis-ld.org/lod/gnis/feature/909020)

- [Santa Fe National Cemetery](https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/109452) at [Find a Grave](/source/Find_a_Grave)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Santa Fe National Cemetery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Fe_National_Cemetery) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Fe_National_Cemetery?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.