The 2024 OSTA Conference was held in the city of Santa Fe, NM. The area was originally occupied by a number of Pueblo Indian villages dating back to 1050 AD. In 1610, the city was settled by Spanish colonists under Conquistador Don Pedro de Peralta, who ordered the construction of the Palace of the Governors, which is considered the oldest building in the United States—thirteen years before the Plymouth Colony was settled by the Mayflower Pilgrims.
The venue was held at the Pope Hall in the First Presbyterian Church, which is an historic landmark situated in the heart of the city, with easy access to most activities, shopping, and restaurants and is within walking distance of our downtown Santa Fe hotels. The church was designed in 1937 by John Gaw Meem, an American architect based in Santa Fe. He is best known for his instrumental role in the development and popularization of the Pueblo Revival Style. In April 2006, the First Presbyterian Church dedicated an adjoining building for education and administration. The building is environmentally conscious, with green alternatives for materials and systems. Envisioned as a multiple-use facility, this historic sanctuary is open most days of the week as a gathering place for meetings, receptions, rehearsals, concerts, education for children and adults, planning for outreach programs, and other events in the community. It also has an archival center!
Field Trips included El Rancho de Las Golondrinas at Santa Fe’s outdoor history Museum. Situated on 200 acres our conference attendees experienced an 18th century ranch life, of the period when the Old Spanish Trail began. After lunch the program included a talk by Rick Hendricks about his book Witches of Abiquiu—an apropos topic for Halloween! Afterwards there was a tour of the Spanish Colonial grounds given by the volunteers of the Las Golondrinas, who dressed in period costume.
The Abiquiu Field Trip was given by Charles Carrillo both at the Abiquiu Inn over breakfast and at the ruins of Santa Rosa de Lima chapel, the court yard of the Abiquiu Pueblo and ended at his historic adobe home on a hill over looking Abiquiu.
