SEVEN NEWS. IT’S THE OLDEST STATUE OF THE VIRGIN MARY IN THE UNITED STATES. AND DID YOU KNOW IT’S RIGHT HERE IN NEW MEXICO? YEAH. FIRST ARRIVING IN 1625. AND THE WOOD USED ON THE STATUE DATES ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE 1400S. NOW, TAKE A LOOK. THE STATUE ALSO HAS AN IMPRESSIVE WARDROBE. OVER IT IS 300 GARMENTS GIVING TO HER AS PRAYER INTENTIONS. ACTS OF THANKSGIVING OR PERSONAL INTENTIONS. BESIDES CLOTHES, PEOPLE HAVE GIFTED HER JEWELS AND EVEN THEIR OWN HAIR. AND NOW FAITH, FASHION AND OVER FOUR CENTURIES OF DEVOTION TAKES CENTER STAGE.
Oldest statue of Virgin Mary in US resides in Santa Fe
Carving came to New Mexico in 1625; wood dates back to the 1400s
Updated: 5:41 PM MDT Jul 19, 2025
A three-foot-tall statue of the Virgin Mary was brought to Santa Fe 400 years ago, and “La Conquistadora” is the oldest statue of the Madonna and Child in the U.S. To commemorate the statue’s arrival in New Mexico in 1625, the statue is on display this Saturday and Sunday at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center, 2021 W. Marcy St.The wood from which it was carved is believed to date back to the 1400s, but the statue is certainly not showing its age at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, its usual home.”People always say that she’s the best dressed woman in Santa Fe with all the garments that she has, but she actually has a total of 330 plus garments, wigs, hair, ” said Joe Sweeney, one of the coordinators of the statue’s care. “Some fabric comes from all over the world, so there’s a section that we have in our wardrobe display where the fabric has come from Nigeria, Australia, Portugal, China. Mainly, they are crafted here int he state of New Mexico.”Sweeney said these international contributions underscores that, despite the statue’s Spanish origin, this depiction and display of the Virgin Mary is meant to embrace Catholics and art lovers of all kinds.”Whether you’re a Christian or whether you’re not, I think it’s just a great opportunity to appreciate the art that goes into all of this because it’s more than that,” Sweeney said.4
SANTA FE, N.M. —
A three-foot-tall statue of the Virgin Mary was brought to Santa Fe 400 years ago, and “La Conquistadora” is the oldest statue of the Madonna and Child in the U.S.
To commemorate the statue’s arrival in New Mexico in 1625, the statue is on display this Saturday and Sunday at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center, 2021 W. Marcy St.
The wood from which it was carved is believed to date back to the 1400s, but the statue is certainly not showing its age at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, its usual home.
“People always say that she’s the best dressed woman in Santa Fe with all the garments that she has, but she actually has a total of 330 plus garments, wigs, hair, ” said Joe Sweeney, one of the coordinators of the statue’s care. “Some fabric comes from all over the world, so there’s a section that we have in our wardrobe display where the fabric has come from Nigeria, Australia, Portugal, China. Mainly, they are crafted here int he state of New Mexico.”
Sweeney said these international contributions underscores that, despite the statue’s Spanish origin, this depiction and display of the Virgin Mary is meant to embrace Catholics and art lovers of all kinds.
“Whether you’re a Christian or whether you’re not, I think it’s just a great opportunity to appreciate the art that goes into all of this because it’s more than that,” Sweeney said.