Two Centuries of Tango: A Spanish Intruder in Santa Fe's Cathedral Park

Back in 2007, a full-length statue of Don Diego de Vargas, based on a Spanish portrait, was installed at the western end of Santa Fe, New Mexico's Cathedral Park, in the United States. The statue shows de Vargas wearing fur-lined clothes, holding a spear in one hand and his cap in the other. A saber in a scabbard graced his hips, and his coat of arms laid at his feet. However, the statue didn't sit well with all. The statue was removed in June 2020 for preservation reasons and is now at the New Mexico History Museum. Surprisingly, the statue was discovered in the backyard of a private residence in early February 2021. Supporters of its removal see it as a celebration of Spanish colonization, while supporters of the statue see it as a celebration of Spain and Hispanic heritage. The statue's long-term destination is yet to be decided.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons