Facing the Plaza on the north is the ancient _Palacio Real_ or Governor’s Palace—a long, one-storied adobe building occupying the length of the block, and faced with the covered walk or portico (they call such a _portal_ in New Mexico) which in former years was a feature of every building of importance in Santa Fe. Within its thick walls for nearly three centuries the governors of New Mexico resided—Spaniards, Pueblo Indians, Spaniards again, Mexicans and finally Americans.[3] In 1909 the building was set aside as the home of the Museum of New Mexico (since removed to a handsome edifice of its own in the New Mexico style of architecture across the street), and of the School of American Research.[4] Some careful restoration work was then done, necessary to remove modern accretions and lay bare certain interesting architectural features incorporated by the original builders, such as the handwrought woodwork, the fireplaces, doorways, etc., so that the edifice as it appears today is outwardly very much as it must have looked a century or two ago. The festoons of dried Indian ears, however, which are said to have been a rather constant adornment of the _portal_ in old times, are now, to the relief of sensitive souls, humanely absent. Within, the Palace is a mine of information for the curious in the history, archaeology and ethnology of our Southwest, and a leisurely visit to it makes a useful preliminary to one’s travels about the State. The building is open to all without charge.