ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A historic map titled “Villa de Santa Fe” has been returned to the Government of Mexico by the FBI, following its reported theft in 2011. The handover took place during a formal ceremony in Albuquerque.
The map, originally named “La Villa Real de la Santa Fé de San Francisco de Asís” — translated as “The Royal Town of the Holy Faith of Saint Francis of Assisi” — dates back to the Spanish colonial era. It depicts the layout of Santa Fe during its time as a Spanish province and is linked to the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, a trade and migration route that connected Mexico City to northern New Mexico. The route was active from the late 1500s to the 1880s and was designated a National Historic Trail in 2000.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris said the agency remains committed to recovering stolen cultural property. “It is my honor to return this historical artifact to the people of Mexico,” Garris stated.
Patricia Pinzón, Consul of Mexico in Albuquerque, described the map’s return as a reflection of Mexico’s efforts to protect its cultural heritage and a symbol of binational cooperation. “This document not only enriches our collective memory but also strengthens the bonds that unite us with New Mexico through a shared history,” she said.
The event included remarks from scholars who discussed the map’s historical significance and conservation status. Speakers included Lic. Mariana Gayosso of Mexico’s National Archives, Dr. Frances Hayashida and Dr. Manuel García y Griego of the University of New Mexico, and Dr. Joseph P. Sánchez, Director Emeritus of UNM’s Spanish Colonial Research Center.
The ceremony concluded with a symbolic handover of the map, marking a collaborative effort to preserve and return cultural artifacts.
