Page 210 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Southwest USA & National Parks

208  NE W MEXIC O NOR THERN NE W MEXIC O  209

q Taos P Taos Plaza VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
Taos Plaza, built by the Spanish
The small community of Taos is set between the dramatic and fortified after the Pueblo Practical Information
peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Rio Revolt of 1680, has been remod- Road map E3. * 6,000. n 1139
Grande River. Like Santa Fe, it is an important center eled several times but remains Paseo del Pueblo Sur (575) 758-
3873; (800) 732-8267. 
for the arts but is more bohemian and relaxed in style. the centerpoint of the town. Its _ Fiestas de Taos (late Jul);
shady trees and benches make it
Its plaza and the surrounding streets are lined with a relaxing spot to sit and people- Yuletide in Taos (late Nov–New
craft shops, cafés, and galleries, many housed in original watch. The copper-topped Year). ∑ taos.org
adobe buildings. bandstand was a gift from Mabel
Taos Indians have lived in the area for around 1,000 Dodge Luhan, New Mexico’s
years. With the arrival of the Spanish missionaries in 1598, leading arts patron in the 1920s. E Taos Art Museum at
A flag has flown continuously
Fechin House
a few settlers followed, but it was not until Don Diego de from the flagpole since the Handcrafted, wooden swing doors in the Fechin House 227 Paseo del Pueblo Norte. Tel (575)
Vargas resettled the area, after the Pueblo Revolt in 1680, Civil War, when Kit Carson and 758-2690. Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sun
that the town’s present foundations were laid (see p44). a band of citizens raised the created one of the country’s New Mexico in 1846. In 1847 (call for winter hours). & 7
In 1898, artists Ernest Blumenschein and Bert Phillips Union Flag to protect Taos from best museums of Southwestern he was killed by Hispanic and ∑ taosartmuseum.org
stopped in Taos to repair a broken wagon wheel, and Confederate supporters. arts and design. Native silver Indian residents who resented Born in Russia in 1881,
never left. In 1915 they established the Taos Society of E Kit Carson Home and turquoise jewelry and American rule. The hole hacked Nicolai Fechin learned
woodcarving from his father.
in the adobe by his family as
Navajo weavings form the core
Artists, which still supports local artists today. and Museum of the exhibits, which are housed they attempted to flee can still He became a talented artist,
113 Kit Carson Rd. Tel (575) 758-4945. in a historic hacienda. Also be seen. Today, exhibits include producing paintings, drawings,
Exploring Taos Ernest Blumenschein (1874– Open 10am–5pm daily (Nov–Feb: featured is the pottery of the guns, native artifacts, and and sculpture. Fechin
There are three parts to Taos: 1960), along with Bert Phillips 10am–4pm). Closed Thanksgiving, famous Puebloan artist Maria animal skins. moved to Taos with his
the central historic district, Taos and Joseph Henry Sharp, was Dec 25, Jan 1. & 7 partial. Martinez (1887–1980), with its family in 1927 and set about
Pueblo to the north, instrumental in ∑ kitcarsonmuseum.org distinctive black-on-black style. P Rio Grande Gorge Bridge restoring his adobe home
and Rancho de Taos founding the Taos At the age of 17, Christopher The dramatic Rio Grande Gorge with Russian-influenced wood-
to the south (see Society of Artists in “Kit” Carson (1809–68) ran away E Governor Bent House Bridge, which opened in 1965, is work including handcrafted
p210). Paseo del 1915. The Society to join a wagon train and and Museum the second-highest suspension doors, windows, and furniture.
Pueblo Norte, the promoted their own became one of the most 117 Bent St. Tel (575) 758-2376. bridge in the country. At 650 ft Today his house is the Taos
main street, leads work and that of famous names in the West. Open Apr–Oct: 9am–5pm daily; (195 m) above the Rio Grande, its Art Museum, containing
north then curves other Taos artists. He led a remarkable life, Nov–Mar: 10am–4pm daily. & dizzying heights offer awesome examples of his work as
west, becoming The Museum working as a cook and Charles Bent became the first views of the gorge and the well as that of numerous
Hwy 64. It leads to is located in interpreter, a fur- Anglo-American governor of surrounding sweeping plateau. early Taos artists.
Taos Ski Valley, the Blumenschein’s trapping
Millicent Rogers former home, mountain man,
Museum, and Rio Furniture displayed in the sections of which a scout for Central Taos
Grande Gorge Bridge. Blumenschein Museum date from the mapping 1 Harwood Museum of Art
1790s. Paintings by expeditions, an 5 Governor Bent House Taos Pueblo
E Harwood Museum of Art Blumenschein and his family, Indian agent, and 2 Blumenschein Home and Museum Millicent Rogers Museum,
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
238 Ledoux St. Tel (575) 758-9826. as well as representative works a military officer and Museum 6 Taos Art Museum
Open 10am–5pm Wed–Fri, noon– produced by the Taos Society of (see p175). He Cover of a Kit 3 Taos Plaza at Fechin House BROOKS STREET
5pm Sat–Sun. Closed Mon, Tue, Artists, hang in rooms decorated purchased this Carson book 4 Kit Carson Home MO N TA NO LA NE
Thanksgiving, Dec 25, Jan 1. & 7 with Spanish Colonial furniture house in Taos and Museum H I ND E ST R EET
∑ harwoodmuseum.org and European antiques. in 1843 for his 14-year-old bride, BE D FO RD S TR E ET at Fechin House
This museum occupies a 19th- Josefa Jaramillo, and lived here BEDFORD LN
century adobe compound run by for the rest of his life. Carson’s PASEO DEL PUEBL O NORTE Taos Art Museum
the University of New Mexico. It remarkable story, and the CIVIC PLAZA DRIVE
provides a tranquil setting for unpredictable nature of frontier
paintings, sculpture, prints, life, are the focus of the museum CAMIN O DE LA PLACITAS MARTYRS LANE
drawings, and photo-graphy. Work exhibits, which feature antique Governor Bent Kit Carson
House and Museum
by members of the original Taos firearms, trapping equipment, BENT STREET State Park
Society of Artists is displayed photographs, and furniture. DO N F E R N ANDO STRE
alongside that of contemporary TERESINA LN
local artists. A collection of E Millicent Rogers Museum DONA LUZ ET Kit Carson Home MOR A DA LANE
and Museum
Hispanic works is also featured. 1504 Millicent Rogers Rd. Tel (575) MANZANA R ES STREET LANE PADRE MARTINEZ STREET DRAGOON LANE
758-2462. Open Apr–Oct: 10am–5pm Taos Plaza
E Blumenschein Home daily; Nov–Mar: 10am–5pm Tue–Sun. Blumenschein ROBERTS LANE
and Museum Closed public hols. & 7 RANCHITOS ROAD Home and Museum PASEO DEL PUEBLO SUR KIT CARSON ROAD
222 Ledoux St. Tel (575) 758-0505. ∑ millicentrogers.org LEDOUX ST COMANCH E RD LA PL A CITA
Open Apr–Oct:10am–5pm Mon–Sat, Beautiful heiress and arts Harwood OJITOS ROAD Q U E S N E L S T R E E T
noon–5pm Sun; Nov–Mar: 10am–4pm patron Millicent Rogers (1902– Museum of Art 0 meters 100
Mon, Tue, Thu–Sat. & 7 par tial. Shops and cafés line the narrow streets 53) moved to Taos in 1947. 0 yards 100
∑ taoshistoricmuseums.com around Taos Plaza Fascinated by the area, she Rancho de Taos
For hotels and restaurants see pp241–2 and pp258–260 For keys to symbols see back flap
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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm