I visited Taos Pueblo again in October, just before the weather would turn, the days would shorten and the icy winds would whip down from the mountains. The day couldn’t have been more perfect. Taos Pueblo, until recently, was not open to the public. Today the Pueblo is open and visited by people from all over the world. Most of the Taos Indians no longer live in the village, but in the surrounding area of Taos. The village, though, is still a central gathering point for ceremonies, just as it was one thousand years ago when Taos Pueblo was first built.

River Rio Pueblo de Taos

The Rio Pueblo de Taos flows from Blue Lake, (considered to be the source of all life) in the Sangre de Christo Mountains. Adobe buildings are divided on either side of the little river that flows through the complex and has always been the source of water. There is no running water or electricity in the apartments.

Pueblo of Adobe

The multi-storied building that houses the individual apartments are made of adobe (a mixture of dirt, water and straw). Each apartment has two rooms to an apartment, one for cooking and eating, the other for sleeping. It was not until the last one hundred years that doors were carved into the walls. Before that you would climb the wooden ladders and enter through the roof. This provided a firm structure (with thick walls) that gave protection from invaders. Most time, though, was spent outside, as each family had their own plot of land for farming on the acres surrounding the pueblo.

Hornos

Hornos (ovens) were adopted from the Spanish, who copied the Moors after they were brought to the Iberian Peninsula. You see them in backyards all over the state of New Mexico and they are still used in Taos Pueblo. Made of adobe, in the shape of a beehive, the Indians bake breads and roast meats in their hornos.

Galleries and Stores

When you visit, stop along the way to enjoy the studios and little stores with baked goods. You can meet and talk with some of the Indian artists and craftspeople.

St. Jerome’s Chapel:

The Spanish chanced upon Taos Pueblo in 1540. In 1619 they built the first Catholic church, forcing Christianity on the Pueblo. As an Indian you either converted or paid with your life. There was a revolt in 1680 and the chapel was destroyed, rebuilt and later destroyed again during the war with Mexico. The present St. Jerome’s chapel was built in 1850. It is an integral part of the landscape of the Pueblo, of its history. At the same time, spiritual and religious practices of the Indians are complex. Traditional kivas for religious practices are still used.

Things to Know Before You Go:

For more details on visiting Taos Pueblo: https://taospueblo.com/visiting-taos-pueblo/ ……….. Take good heed of their precaution to call before going. We arrived at the Pueblo our very first time in early morning only to discover that it would be closed due to the passing of a member. If you enjoyed your visit to Taos Pueblo you might also want to visit Chaco Canyon: Chttps://roadtosuchness.com/day-chaco-canyon-historical-park/