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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Santa Fe

26 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Updated March 27, 2026
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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

11 Close Encounters With Aliens and Explosions in New Mexico

In the arid and remote expanses of New Mexico's landscape, booms and zooms abound. From the volatile effects of the Manhattan Project to the otherworldly possibilities of Roswell's UFO, the Land of Enchantment has never shied away from the controversial or far-reaching. Here are several places to encounter those legacies across this southwestern state.

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Explore Santa Fe, New Mexico

Art 6
Museums 5
History & Culture 4
Native Americans 3
Rock Formations 3
Architecture 3
Gardens 2
Sculptures 2

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Stories About Santa Fe

Each year, thousands gather to watch the burning of Zozobra.

How Zozobra Set Alight the Hearts of Santa Fe Residents

Each year on the Friday before Labor Day, this community gathers to let go of its worries—by burning a 50-foot puppet.
Sponsored By Visit Santa Fe
The Loretto Staircase.

The Miraculous Loretto Chapel Staircase

The Sisters of Loretto prayed nine days for this staircase—and on the ninth day, it came.
Sponsored By Visit Santa Fe
Archival photo of the staircase inside Loretto Chapel.

The Enduring Mystery of the Loretto Chapel Staircase

This staircase and its construction have dumbfounded visitors for decades.
Sponsored By Visit Santa Fe
The left side of “Multi-Cultural,” a collaborative mural painted in 1980. State officials approved a plan that would destroy the painting.

New Mexico Will Tear Down a Historic Chicano Mural to Build an Art Museum

The artist, Gilberto Guzman, once wanted to restore the painting. But state officials say it’s too unstable.
by Sabrina Imbler, Atlas Obscura
Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
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