Vintage Fred Harvey La Fonda Curio Shop Box Santa Fe NM Southwest Ephemera

Step back into the golden age of American travel with this authentic Fred Harvey La Fonda Curio Shop box, from the legendary La Fonda on the Plaza Hotel in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

This small but evocative box is a genuine piece of mid-century Southwestern Americana, once used to package fine Native American jewelry and souvenirs sold in the La Fonda gift shop, one of the iconic stops on the Fred Harvey Company’s historic route along the Santa Fe Railway.

This particular box comes from a family collection, originally purchased by the seller’s mother during a family trip to Santa Fe. Born in 1956, she later kept this box among her vintage Barbie accessories, a sweet link between her childhood memories and the travel heritage of the mid-century Southwest.

The cream-colored box features subtle embossed floral detailing and crisp black lettering that reads:

“Fred Harvey / La Fonda Curio Shop / Santa Fe, New Mexico. It retains its original cotton insert, still softly nestled inside, and remains in beautiful condition for its age, an outstanding survivor from a bygone era when train travel, hospitality, and craftsmanship defined the American Southwest.

Details:

• Origin: La Fonda Hotel, Santa Fe, New Mexico

• Company: The Fred Harvey Company

• Era: Circa 1940s–1960s

• Material: Embossed cream paperboard with printed black text

• Condition: Excellent vintage condition; light age wear on corners and edges; original cotton insert intact though obviously vintage. There is a mark on it which is pointed out in the photos but this is a vintage item so it shows many signs of the passage of time. 

• Provenance: Authentic original packaging from Fred Harvey’s La Fonda Curio Shop

Collector Notes:

Pieces like this are rarely found intact, especially with their original lining. It’s a striking example of Harvey House ephemera, perfect for collectors of Fred Harvey memorabilia, La Fonda Hotel history, Route 66 artifacts, and mid-century travel advertising. Display it alongside Native American jewelry, vintage postcards, or Western Americana collectibles to complete your set.

Fred Harvey Company, La Fonda Hotel, Santa Fe New Mexico, Route 66 memorabilia, Southwest ephemera, Harvey House, vintage travel souvenir, Western Americana, Native American jewelry box, mid-century tourism, railroad history, collectible packaging

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