Home / National Park Service Exhibits / El Morro National Monument (ELMO) / Historic Artifacts and Inscriptions / Spanish Colonial Artifacts 27
Spanish conquistadors traveling under Francisco Vasquez de Coronado entered New Mexico and made it as far as Zuni by AD 1540. It was not until 1583, however, that the Spanish reached what is now El Morro National Monument, which Antonio de Espejo, a man sent in search of members of a previous Spanish expedition into New Mexico, described as El Estanque de Penol (pool at the great rock). Within five years of this recording, Don Juan de Onate officially colonized New Mexico, and on April 16, 1605, inscribed his name on the now famous Inscription Rock. Learn more on the NPS webpage The Spaniards.
- Wooden Cross, Front
Cultural Period: Spanish Colonial (late 1500s – 1846) Description: Painted wooden cross with a three-tiered base. The cross is brown and trimmed in gold, with a hole in each of the arms and one in the main shaft, and reads “INRII” across a plaque at the top. Orange and red painted paisleys adorn the back. Provenience: Unknown. Collection: National Park Service, El Morro. - Wooden Cross, Back
Cultural Period: Spanish Colonial (late 1500s – 1846) Description: Painted wooden cross with a three-tiered base. The cross is brown and trimmed in gold, with a hole in each of the arms and one in the main shaft, and reads “INRII” across a plaque at the top. Orange and red painted paisleys adorn the back. Provenience: Unknown. Collection: National Park Service, El Morro. - Spanish Rapier, Inscription "In Solingen"
Cultural Period: Spanish Colonial (late 1500s – 1846) Description: Spanish wooden-handled cup hilt rapier inscribed with “Gio Knegt” on one side and “In Solingen” on the other. “Gio Knegt” is the mark of the maker, Johannes Knecht. “In Solingen” proclaims the sword was made in the German city of Solingen. More than one Knecht manufactured swords in Solingen, leaving the date range for the production of this sword A.D. 1670 – 1805. The style of the sword, however, suggests an earlier manufacture date, perhaps in the late 1600s – early 1700s. Provenience: Unknown. Collection: National Park Service, El Morro. - Spanish Rapier, Inscription "Gio Knegt"
Cultural Period: Spanish Colonial (late 1500s – 1846) Description: Spanish wooden-handled cup hilt rapier inscribed with “Gio Knegt” on one side and “In Solingen” on the other. “Gio Knegt” is the mark of the maker, Johannes Knecht. “In Solingen” proclaims the sword was made in the German city of Solingen. More than one Knecht manufactured swords in Solingen, leaving the date range for the production of this sword A.D. 1670 – 1805. The style of the sword, however, suggests an earlier manufacture date, perhaps in the late 1600s – early 1700s. Provenience: Unknown. Collection: National Park Service, El Morro. - Spanish Rapier
Cultural Period: Spanish Colonial (late 1500s – 1846) Description: Spanish wooden-handled cup hilt rapier inscribed with “Gio Knegt” on one side and “In Solingen” on the other. “Gio Knegt” is the mark of the maker, Johannes Knecht. “In Solingen” proclaims the sword was made in the German city of Solingen. More than one Knecht manufactured swords in Solingen, leaving the date range for the production of this sword A.D. 1670 – 1805. The style of the sword, however, suggests an earlier manufacture date, perhaps in the late 1600s – early 1700s. Provenience: Unknown. Collection: National Park Service, El Morro. - Spanish Armor Breastplate, Interior
Cultural Period: Spanish Colonial (late 1500s – 1846) Description: Spanish armor breastplate, or cuirass, with a “proof mark” in the left half. This hemispherical dent was the result of a musket ball fired into the armor to “prove” the efficacy of the manufacture. Provenience: Unknown. Collection: National Park Service, El Morro. - Spanish Armor Breastplate, Exterior
Cultural Period: Spanish Colonial (late 1500s – 1846) Description: Spanish armor breastplate, or cuirass, with a “proof mark” in the left half. This hemispherical dent was the result of a musket ball fired into the armor to “prove” the efficacy of the manufacture. Provenience: Unknown. Collection: National Park Service, El Morro. - Santo, Front
Cultural Period: Spanish Colonial (late 1500s – 1846) Description: Painted wooden santo with a red robe and a brown and yellow cloak. The paint is cracking and peeling, worm holes riddle the base, and the hands are missing, but the eyes retain their original luster. Provenience: Unknown. Collection: National Park Service, El Morro. - Santo, Close-up of Face
Cultural Period: Spanish Colonial (late 1500s – 1846) Description: Painted wooden santo with a red robe and a brown and yellow cloak. The paint is cracking and peeling, worm holes riddle the base, and the hands are missing, but the eyes retain their original luster. Provenience: Unknown. Collection: National Park Service, El Morro. - Santo, Back
Cultural Period: Spanish Colonial (late 1500s – 1846) Description: Painted wooden santo with a red robe and a brown and yellow cloak. The paint is cracking and peeling, worm holes riddle the base, and the hands are missing, but the eyes retain their original luster. Provenience: Unknown. Collection: National Park Service, El Morro. - San Ysidro Santo, Alternate View
Cultural Period: Spanish Colonial (late 1500s – 1846) Description: Modern wooden San Ysidro, the patron saint of farmers, made in the tradition of Colonial period New Mexican santeros, or saint makers. Provenience: Made by New Mexican artist Luis Tapia in 1982. Collection: National Park Service, El Morro. - San Ysidro Santo
Cultural Period: Spanish Colonial (late 1500s – 1846) Description: Modern wooden San Ysidro, the patron saint of farmers, made in the tradition of Colonial period New Mexican santeros, or saint makers. Provenience: Made by New Mexican artist Luis Tapia in 1982. Collection: National Park Service, El Morro. - Rosary
Cultural Period: Spanish Colonial (late 1500s – 1846) Description: Rosary with black beads and a silver and black crucifix. Provenience: Unknown. Collection: National Park Service, El Morro. - Pikeman's Helmet, Front
Cultural Period: Spanish Colonial (late 1500s – 1846) Description: Spanish pikeman’s helmet with a ridge across the top and two holes on either side near the brim. Provenience: Unknown. Collection: National Park Service, El Morro. - Pikeman's Helmet, Back
Cultural Period: Spanish Colonial (late 1500s – 1846) Description: Spanish pikeman’s helmet with a ridge across the top and two holes on either side near the brim. Provenience: Unknown. Collection: National Park Service, El Morro.