Santa Fe has one of the oldest Historic Districts Ordinances in the United States. Adopted in 1957, it preserves existing historic buildings and encourages similar architectural style in new construction. Santa Fe has five historic districts covering 18% of the total city area. Each district follows historical guidelines to maintain a harmonious appearance.

The Downtown and Eastside of Santa Fe are considered one Historical District, covering downtown and some of the finest streets in Santa Fe – Canyon Road, Acequia Madre, Camino del Monte Sol, and Palace Avenue. This district contains the city’s oldest and best preserved Spanish-Pueblo and Territorial architecture. This architecture is often referred to as “Old Santa Fe Style.” Both residential and commercial properties are located in this historical district and the building material is predominantly adobe.

The Don Gaspar Historical District is the second Preservation District in Santa Fe. It is mostly residential, dating to the late 1800's. New architectural forms were added with the arrival of the railroad in Santa Fe. Architectural styles popular in the East, West, and MidWest began to be built in Santa Fe – Craftsman Bungalow, Italianate, Mansard, and Queen Anne. Traditional building with adobe was for the most part replaced with brick and stone construction. The diversity of styles in the Don Gaspar Historic District makes this area architecturally significant.

The third district is the Westside-Guadalupe Historic District. It began as Hispanic farms on the outskirts of the small city of Santa Fe. The land was divided into long narrow strips running to the acequia networks for water access. As the families began subdividing their property among family members, the small and oddly shaped lots of this area came into being. The architecture is a mixture of traditional Spanish-Pueblo and elements of other architectural styles, giving the district an eclectic architectural feel. This eclectic architecture has been named “Santa Fe Vernacular.”

The fourth district is the small area known as the Historic Transition District, located between downtown and the railyard, with streets such as Montezuma, Aztec, and Garfield. This area was also influenced by the arrival of the railroad in the 1880's. It became home to light industrial businesses. Presently shops, offices, and restaurants are located here.

The fifth and last Historical District is located in the southeastern part of Santa Fe. It is predominantly a residential district that was created in the early 1950's. Many of Santa Fe’s museums are also located in this district. Historically significant structures, such as the John Gaw Meem residence, the laboratory of Anthropology, the Wheelwright Museum, and the National Park Service Building are also found in this historical district.

Santa Fe has a rich architectural history. The Historical Preservation Board of the City of Santa Fe works with owners to preserve the integrity of our Historic City.