Palace of the Governors (New Mexico History Museum), Santa Fe (must see)

The Palace of the Governors, the former seat of Santa Fe's governance, is the oldest continuously occupied edifice in the United States erected by European settlers. This unassuming yet historically profound structure, constructed in 1610, has been the backdrop for several key events in the city's history. In 1693, Diego de Vargas valiantly battled Indian rebels within its walls when he reclaimed the city; ill-fated Mexican governor Albino Pérez met a grim fate, being beheaded in his office in 1837, and later, Governor Lew Wallace penned "Ben-Hur" (considered the most influential Christian book of the 19th century) here in the 1870s.

Inside, you'll find some of the most exquisite items in the state's collection, including trinkets and photographic prints from the 19th century alongside the stunning 18th-century Segesser hide paintings: two grand panels crafted from buffalo skin, depicting rare scenes of Spanish colonial battles. These works, along with the room they're in—decorated with 1909 murals—are truly worth the price of admission. In a couple of restored, furnished rooms, you can compare the living conditions of the Mexican leadership around 1845 to the relative comfort the U.S. governor enjoyed in 1893.

The Palace is part of the New Mexico History Museum complex, which also includes the newer building at the rear. There, you'll find more exhibits documenting the region's rich history.