The St. Catherine’s Project is an approach – a vision – of Santa Fe Civic Housing Authority for the historic preservation and development of St. Catherine’s Indian School campus in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The St. Catherine’s Project is designed to recognize, honor and preserve the unique relational history between the physical site and the students, their families and the communities that were impacted by the school’s existence for over a century, while at the same time creating a commercially sustainable development to support the preservation and development of St. Catherine’s Indian School campus for generations to come. This website provides information to interested persons about the St. Catherine’s Project.
History of St. Catherine's School
St. Catherine’s was founded in 1887 by Saint Katharine Drexel to serve Indian and African American children, providing support and education for countless numbers of New Mexico’s prominent leaders before graduating its last class and closing its doors in 1998.
For over 100 years, parents chose to send their children to St. Catherine’s because it embodied Saint Katharine Drexel’s unwavering devotion to serving and supporting children in the realms of education, art, religion, athletics and industry.
Saint Katharine Drexel’s profound dedication to fostering the wellbeing of children and enhancing their opportunities while also supporting their cultural identities is reflected by the deep appreciation, loyalty and generational affection of alumni for all that St. Catherine’s was to them, their families and communities.
In 2016, after several failed attempts by private developers to develop the property, the Santa Fe Civic Housing Authority (SFCHA) acquired the St. Catherine’s campus. St. Catherine’s campus is comprised of 17 acres with 13 historic structures. Today SFCHA considers Saint Katharine Drexel’s legacy, life’s work, vision and the lived experiences of former students and staff to be critical in the planning process for the preservation and development of St. Catherine’s.
The primary purpose of the St. Catherine’s Project is to adopt an investment model that would financially fund the preservation, operation and maintenance of historic buildings on the St. Catherine’s campus for future generations.
SFCHA shares its vision and hopes for a respectful and collaborative development and preservation process for the St. Catherine’s Project.
- The Life of Saint Katharine Drexel
- Memories of St. Catherine’s Indian School
- Tribal Advisory Committee Resolution
- St. Catherine's Project Testament and Guiding Principles
- All Pueblo Council of Governors Resolution
- Timeline of Ownership and Development Efforts
- Conceptual Framework for Development
- St. Catherine’s Project Redevelopment Program
- Interested in St. Catherine's Project? Contact us!