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Silent but originally presented by a speaker to packed auditoriums around the USA, this extraordinary film produced by the Santa Fe Railroad takes a look at sights seen as part of the the so-called “Indian Detour“. Indian Detours were the idea of the legendary Fred Harvey Company, renowned in part for their chain of ‘eating houses’ hosted by Harvey Girls along the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad between 1876 and 1968. Fred Harvey Co's “Indian Department”, commissioned artists, photographers and ethnographers to depict the Southwest’s unique “Indian” lifestyle and culture. Images portraying the “romance and mystique of the Southwest” which appeared on brochures, pamphlets, menus and postcards. At :41 the tour sets out from the La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe to visit nearby Native American pueblos. At San Ildefonso, the famous pottery maker 'Marie' is seen. This is actually Maria Montoya Martinez (1887, San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico – July 20, 1980, San Ildefonso Pueblo), a Native American artist who created internationally known pottery. Martinez (born Maria Poveka Montoya), her husband Julian, and other family members examined traditional Pueblo pottery styles and techniques to create pieces which reflect the Pueblo people’s legacy of fine artwork and crafts. At 1:40 traditional drumming and dancing is shown. At 2:23 a mission style church or chapel is seen. At 2:34 the film moves to Taos. The Rancho de Taos mission is shown at 3: 3:30 a famous shrine near Chimayo is shown called Santuario. At 3:54 chili peppers are seen hanging at Cordova. At 4:07 Penitente Crosses are shown at Truchas. At 5:22 wheat is threshed with a team of horses by a Native American cowboy. At 5:50 the film proclaims that the area is a “Photographer's Paradise“. At 6:45 the film returns to Santa Fe for the September burning of the Old Man Gloom known as Zozobra is shown (the original “Burning Man“ !) At 7:58 the entry of the Conquistadors is shown into Santa Fe as part of the parade. At 9:00 the Catholic Archbishop is shown in the parade as well as the Fiesta Queen at 9:23. Mariachis serenade. At 11:00 beans are eaten and Indian vendors are shown selling their wares on city streets. At 12:00 the Children's Parade is shown. At 12:50 the famed La Fonda Hotel, part of the Fred Harvey system, is shown. More mariachis and folk dancing are shown as the film draws to a close, with shots of a modern Santa Fe diesel locomotive and streamline train cars heading West. The Church and cemetery at San Ildefonso Pueblo San Ildefonso Pueblo (Tewa: P'ohwhóge Owingeh [p’òhxʷógè ʔówîŋgè] “where the water cuts through']) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States, and a federally recognized tribe, established c. 1300 Pueblo is self-governing and is part of the Santa Fe, New Mexico Metropolitan Statistical Area. San Ildefonso Pueblo is a member of the Eight Northern Pueblos, and the pueblo people are from the Tewa ethnic group of Native Americans, who speak the Tewa language. We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: “01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.“ This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit
