Taos Walking Tour Booklet
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SPONSORED BY ■ HISTORIC TAOS A Self-Guided Walking Tour of 22 Historic Taos Landmarks architects Historic Taos Walking Tour third printing, 2009 TaosVacationGuide.org ■ ■ SPONSORS Welcome Visitors and Taoseños! ou are invited to explore the diversity of this region through a self-guided tour. The Ytwo-hundred-year-old Taos Plaza and the streets that radiate from it like spokes, form the National Historic District of Taos. It contains a number of national and state landmarks that are testimonials to the rich and complex cultural history Experience exquisite accommodations and an art collection of Taos. inspired by Native American and global cultures. The Taos Valley has been a major trade and Rejuvenate at our Living Spa. Indulge in award winning travel route since human presence was first felt cuisine at AAA Four-Diamond De La Tierra Restaurant. Or, just drop in to tour our property and enjoy live in the area. Archeological evidence suggests weekend music in our Anaconda Lounge. that people have been using and moving through the Taos Valley for at least the past 9,000 years. EL MONTE SAGRADO The ancestors of the Pueblo people, com- LIVING RESORT & SPA monly known as the Anasazi, were the first per- 317 Kit Carson Road manent inhabitants of the Valley. Room blocks 800.828.TAOS • 575.737.9820 • fax 575.737.2980 and pit houses in the Taos area testify to their elmontesagrado.com • [email protected] presence since 900 AD. Around 1200 AD, they aggregated into small above-ground structures of 50-100 rooms. Many believe the Taos Pueblo was constructed around 1450 as a multistory complex. However, archeologists predominantly place the date of construction of Taos Pueblo in the 14th century on or about 1350. Unfortunately, there is no known recorded date. In any case, the Pueblo Experience Southwestern charm and history in the heart Indians depended upon nature for their survival, of Taos' historic district. The inn is on the National and and therefore treated nature as an organizing New Mexico Registers of Historic Places. Forty-four and spiritual element in their lives. unique rooms / suites and award-winning Doc Martin’s At the time of the arrival of the Europeans, all Restaurant and The Adobe Bar, named “the social of Taos Valley was in the domain of Taos Pueblo center of Taos” by Travel and Leisure. Indians. In 1540, Francisco de Coronado, a Spanish conquistador and explorer, was author- HISTORIC TAOS INN ized to explore the area by the King of Spain. 125 Paseo del Pueblo Norte Francisco de Coronado led the expedition into 800.TAOSINN (826.7466) • 575.758.2233 taosinn.com • [email protected] New Mexico. After experiencing much resistance from the Pueblos of the region, no further expeditions were authorized until 1598, when Don Juan de Oñate established a colonial capital at the cur- rent San Juan Pueblo. Oñate and his soldiers and settlers were awarded titles and believed that they would make their fortunes by finding gold, silver, and mercury (quicksilver). A captain of Oñate’s who was sent out to look for food Famed for the design of El Monte Sagrado and respected and clothing made the first contact with the for 11 years of practice in Taos, Living Designs Group is Pueblos of Picuris and Taos. The captain’s name the local firm with a national reputation. Accountable to was Hernando de Alvarado. our clients and committed to our environment, LDG is sought nationwide for sustainability expertise and recog- During the 1600s, the Spanish strengthened nized regionally for community-enriching, quality design. their control in the Taos Valley and settled in large encomiendas (trustees who held a specific LDG ARCHITECTS number of natives in trust) bordering the Rio 122 A Doña Luz Grande River. For many years there was a clash 575.751.9481 • fax 575.751.9483 between the two cultures with battles and revolts. ldgtaos.com 1 ■ The Spanish were driven out of Taos at one point and the resettlement and reestablishment of HISTORIC SITE LISTINGS Spanish civil government in Taos Valley did not occur again until 1715. After that time, Spanish Map Page focus shifted from acquisition and exploitation to permanent settlement. 1 TAOS PLAZA 4 With this new focus, Hispano settlers interacted extensively with the Pueblo and other Indian HOTEL LA FONDA DE TAOS 5 neighbors. The three groups engaged in trading, 2 informally and through trade fairs. Hispanos brought many new types of fruits and vegetables 3 OLD COUNTY COURTHOUSE 6 into Taos Valley and introduced livestock to the Pueblos. The Hispanos introduced modern 4 OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CHURCH 7 irrigation systems called acequias, an Arabic word meaning irrigation ditch. The Pueblos taught 5 GUADALUPE PLAZA the Hispanos to build with mud and timber. AND SANTISTEVAN HOUSE 9 The Pueblos adopted the Hispanos’ adobe brick molds and horno ovens brought from Spain. 6 BLUMENSCHEIN HOUSE 10 The land grant system, initiated by the Spanish, blended with the Pueblo tradition and evolved 7 HARWOOD MUSEUM 11 into the current style of the central plaza and the surrounding buildings and churches, for which PADRE MARTINEZ´ HOUSE 12 Taos Valley is now known. 8 After the period of Mexican rule, the area was claimed as a territory for the United States in 9 LA LOMA PLAZA 13 1846. President Fillmore established New Mexico as an official territory in 1850, and Taos became 10 LONG JOHN DUNN HOUSE 16 a county in 1852. Taos Valley flourished during this period and other cultures found their way 11 GOVERNOR BENT HOUSE 17 into the territory. Taos was a very solid trade center for the region. 12 BERT PHILLIPS HOUSE 18 In 1898, two young artists from the East named Ernest Blumenschein and Bert Phillips discovered 13 FECHIN HOUSE 19 the valley after their wagon broke down north of Taos. They decided to stay, captivated by the MANBY HOUSE 20 beauty of the area. As word of their discovery 14 spread throughout the art community, they were joined by other associates. In 1915, six artists 15 TAOS INN 21 formed the Taos Society of Artists. Soon other ´ intellectuals such as Mabel Dodge Luhan and 16 EL RINCON TRADING POST 22 D.H. Lawrence joined the Taos scene, adding greatly to the social and intellectual life of the 17 WALTER UFER STUDIO 23 community. To date Taos is known world-wide by artists, art patrons, and inquisitive minds who 18 KIT CARSON HOUSE 24 continue to find it a mecca of inspiration. The history of Taos is a story of change, adap- 19 LUNA CHAPEL AND SHARP STUDIO 25 tation, and the integration of three cultures that simultaneously complicates and enriches the COUSE HOUSE 26 reality in which Taoseños live today. You are 20 invited to explore a small part of this rich history and culture with the Taos Historic District self- 21 MABEL DODGE LUHAN HOUSE 27 guided tour. The map and brochure will assist you in your journey. 22 VICTOR HIGGINS HOUSE 28 Welcome to Taos, Bien Venidos, and Na-Tah-La-Wamah. Locator map on pages 14 -15 2 3 TAOS PLAZA HOTEL LA FONDA DE TAOS 1 Center of Taos 2 108 South Plaza The original Spanish settlement of scat- tered farms evolved in Taos Valley about 1615. But in 1680, the settlers were driven out by the Pueblo Revolt. Spanish authority was not reestablished until 1696 with the reconquest by Don Diego de Vargas. The area was firmly resettled by 1710. In 1796 the Don Fernando de Taos Land Grant was given to 63 families by the King of Spain. This resulted in the establishment of the current Taos Plaza and surrounding community. Don Fernando de Taos became the most important settlement in the area outside of the ancient San Geronimo de Taos Pueblo two miles to the north. There has been a hotel at this location Homes were built in large quadrangles, since 1820. The first establishment, called thus offering a fortress-like structure. Hostile ENTRANCE the St. Vrain Mercantile Store, supplied raiding Indians from outside the Taos area TO locals and travelers with everything from were thwarted in their attempts to enter COLUMBIAN tack and seed to rooms and a saloon. While the village. Sentries stationed at the corners HOTEL, there were numerous fires in the Plaza, the of the fortified village kept vigil day and 1920s hotel was never affected. night. A huge gate offered the only means In 1880, Aloysius Liebert built the of entry and exit to and from the Plaza. Columbian Hotel and Bar on the site. The enclosure served as a refuge for live- It was a popular gathering place. stock at night, and merchants displayed In 1900, Robert and Maclovia Poole their wares there during trade fairs. purchased the hotel and bar and ran it until Over the years, there were many fires Robert was shot by a disgruntled customer within the Plaza and many buildings were in 1909. lost and rebuilt. Because the buildings Maclovia Poole’s heirs sold the property were contiguous, a fire in one usually to the Karavas brothers in 1932. They spread to others. began a major renovation in 1937 when The character of the present structures they expanded and added a second story around the Plaza dates from the 1930s. to the complex. They changed the name The current Plaza, with its many shops and to the Hotel la Fonda de Taos. galleries, is a natural gathering place for In 1952 Saki Karavas, son of James locals and visitors alike. The park area and Karavas, bought out his uncle’s share and Gazebo are used extensively for festivals ran the hotel until his death in 1999.