Born: 1800, Mexico
Died: January 17, 1852
Country most active: United States
Also known as: La Tules
Doña Maria Gertrudis “Tules” Barceló was a saloon owner and master gambler in Santa Fe in the Territory of New Mexico in the 1830s-1850s. She relocated sometime after Mexican authorities fined her for operating a gambling salon for miners in the Ortiz Mountains. Barceló amassed a small fortune by capitalizing on the flow of American and Mexican traders involved with the commercial highway of the Santa Fe Trail. She became infamous in the U.S. as the Mexican “Queen of Sin” through a series of American travel writings and newspaper serials before, during, and after the Mexican-American War. These depictions, often intended to explain or justify the U.S. invasion of Mexico, presented La Tules as a madame and prostitute who symbolized the supposedly immoral nature of the local Mexican population. In addition to false assertions that she was a prostitute, many also claimed that she was having an illicit affair with New Mexico Governor Manuel Armijo. The sensational accounts were typically embellished, if not completely fabricated. Most of the American descriptions of Tules Barceló contradicted each other wildly in terms of her appearance and background. The only common agreement among them was that Barceló excelled at the card game monte, often winning vast piles of gold from the male customers in her saloon. Barceló died on January 17, 1852 in Santa Fe with a remarkable fortune of $10,000 and several houses.
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Described as “the supreme queen of refinement and fashion,” María Gertrudis Barceló was a prominent saloon owner and professional gambler in Santa Fe in the 1830s and 1840s. Known as Madame La Tules or Doña Tules, meaning The Reeds in Spanish, Barceló was recognized for her charm and sharp business skills, which helped establish her as an influential member of high society during the heyday of the Santa Fe Trail.
Barceló is believed to have been born in the Bavispe Valley of Sonora, Mexico, in the early 1800s and moved in 1821 with her family to Tomé, a village south of Albuquerque, after Mexico gained independence from Spain. It is believed that the family traveled north to Tomé by way of El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro. An educated and independent woman, Barceló married Manuel Sisneros at 23 years old, and thereafter kept her maiden name and retained sole rights to property.
In 1835, Barceló opened a hotel and casino with whitewashed adobe walls in the city center of Santa Fe. The establishment encompassed an entire city block on Burro Alley and featured lavish decorations including chandeliers, drapes, mirrors, and imported furnishings that arrived via wagon along the Santa Fe Trail. The casino became a destination for local socialites and trail travelers alike in search of entertainment and opulence. Barceló oversaw the casino operation and regaled patrons as one of the card dealers, widely known as the best dealer of the game Monte across the southwest.
Seeking trade deals and investments that increased her wealth and social status, Barceló was a smart businesswoman. She exercised economic and political sway, making her fortune from real estate and gold ventures, in addition to her casino. When the American civilian government established itself in Santa Fe during the Mexican-American War in 1846, Barceló allied herself with the Americans and assisted them by providing information and, at times, money.
Throughout her life and beyond, Barceló inspired both admirers and critics, with her tales commemorated in books, newspapers, television shows, a musical, and general lore. Accounts and representation of Barceló were often embellished by those who labeled her the “queen of sin.” While she ran the saloon, she also made frequent philanthropic contributions to families in need, the Catholic Church, charitable organizations, and the government.
Barceló continued to operate her casino through the 1840s and died in January of 1852. Upon her death, she left several residences, property, and $10,000 to her family, including two adopted daughters, in addition to substantial contributions to the Catholic Church and the city of Santa Fe to be used for charitable endeavors. In addition to the wealth, Barceló left behind countless stories and a reputation to live on for generations.