April 2, 2012

TAOS

I drove from Santa Fe to Taos late yesterday afternoon.
Here are a couple of photos taken on the drive.

I arrived at my hotel in Taos about 6:00 p.m.

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Taos Plaza

"Homes were built in large quadrangles, the rear of the buildings forming a continuous wall, thus offering a fortress-like structure. Hostile raiding Indians were thwarted in their surprise visits to the village. Sentries stationed at the corners of the fort kept vigil day and night. A huge gate offered the only means of entry and exit to and from the Plaza. The enclosure served as a refuge for livestock at nightfull, and during the trade fairs, merchants displayed their wares within these walls."

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Bent Street

Governor Bent House

"Charles Bent was a highly respected, much loved figure of the Old West. He was a trader and owner of wagon trains on the Santa Fe Trail. He owned trading posts in Santa Fe and Taos and dealt with early mountain men. He provided them with supplies and bought their furs and buffalo hides. He, his brother William and Ceran St. Vrain built Bent's Fort in Colorado - famous through the West as a trading center for Indians and mountain men."

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Taos Indian Pueblo

I had hoped to visit the Taos Indian Pueblo, but it is closed to the public until mid April. Here is a short description of the pueblo from a local guide.

"Just three miles north of Taos is the famous "apartment house" home of the Taos Indians, fist visited by Captain Hernandez de Alvarado of the Coronado expedition more than 400 years ago. He found the Pueblo a thriving community of farmers and hunters, living in two great adobe buildings. These massive 5-story structures were combined apartments and fortresses and already were hundreds of years old.  Their appearance undoubtedly has changed but little today; only doors and windows in the lower rooms have been added. Electricity is forbidden. (Originally, access was gained by ladders, which could be drawn up for protection.)"

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Old Mission of St. Francis de Assisi

Ranchos de Taos

"One of the most beautiful missions in the Southwest, St. Francis of Assisi church is located in Ranchos de Taos, four miles south of Taos en route to Santa Fe. This famous church was built about 1710. It took 45 years for parishioners to complete the massive adobe structure. Recently, restoration work has been done on the building, but the parishioners did most of that in traditional fashion. The mission is built in the middle of a plaza surrounded by a continuous rows of homes, some of which are centuries old. The mission of "San Francisco de Asis" prides itself on works of art hanging on its walls - old Santos, retablos and of more recent vintage, a notable "mystery painting" called the Shadow of the Cross.)"

No photos are allowed in the church.

Church Gift Shop

Some buildings surrounding the chruch

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Kit Carson Home & Musuem

"In 1826, at the age of 16, Kit Carson ran away from home in Missouri to come to Taos, a key center for the mountain men. Taos was to be his headquarters, and later home, until has death in 1868. Carson led a colorful life as a trapper, hunter, scout and guide, rancher, Indian agent, soldier and family man. Though Carson was the West's most famous scout, many of his other activities were important in building the Western United States. His loyalty to country was unshakable. His home, built in 1825, was bought by Kit in 1843 when he married Josefa Jaramillo, member of a prominent Spanish family of Taos. It was their permanent residence for the next 25 years, their lifetime together. Several of their eight children were born in this historic Taos landmark."

During the tour of the home, we saw a shortened version of a film about Kit Carson's life produced by the History Channel which includes some re-enactments of history. Interestingly the actor playing Kit Carson is his great-grandson. There also was a short tour of the small four-room home.

Kitchen

Parlor

Carson used this room as his office when he was U.S.Indian Agent. In the display case is the Brigadier General's jacket worn by Carson, his Masonic hat and other artifacts.

Kit Carson Memorial State Park and Cemetery

Gravesite

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Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is a cantilever truss bridge across the Rio Grande Gorge approximately 10 miles northwest of Taos. It is the fifth highest bridge in the United States. The span is 1,280 feet. It was dedicated on September 10, 1965.

View from the bridge