Like many stories in New Mexico, this one begins more than 400 years ago.

It starts with Cristobal Baca, born in 1567 in Mexico City. He arrived in what is now Northern New Mexico around 1600 with his wife, Ana Ortiz, and a group of reinforcement soldiers sent to defend the Spanish colony newly established by Juan de Oñate at Ohkay Owingeh. The couple would be the start of generations of families who have lived throughout the state.

Surviving descendants of the Bacas were forced to flee south after the Pueblo Revolt of 1680.

But children of their grandson Cristobal Baca II (about 1635-1697) and his wife, Ana Moreno de Lara (about 1637-1693), returned to Northern New Mexico following Don Diego de Vargas’ reconquest of the territory. One of Cristobal II and Ana’s sons, Manuel Baca, had ni

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