For the first two centuries of Santa Fe's history, weary wayfarers were out of luck. Not only did the Spanish authorities enforce a strict travel ban on foreign visitors, but there was also no place to stay in the territorial capital. That all changed in the 1820s. When Mexico gained independence, a flood of traffic cascaded down the Santa Fe Trail, and the Plaza became a hub of hospitality and trade. From the Exchange Hotel to La Fonda, the inn on the corner of San Francisco Street represented one of the most welcome landmarks in the West. Author Allen Steele recounts stories of trailblazing pioneers and the lodging on which their daring depended.

Dr. Allen R. Steele worked all his life in communication media, first as a disc jockey at his college radio station and then in managerial and administrative positions in international broadcasting networks. He also spent many years as a university professor in Australia and America. More recently, he has immersed himself in the history of the Southwest. Among his previous books, Santa Fe 1880: Chronicles from the Year of the Railroad records a most critical year in the history of Santa Fe, when rapid change overtook the old city. He now resides in the city he wrote about and enjoys sharing the city's incredible history with visitors on his downtown history tours.