Of all the things to see and do in Taos, there are certain sites that offer a special glimpse into the history, land, and cultures that make Taos unique.
It takes time to explore 1000 years of history, but if you want to start at the beginning, Taos Pueblo is the only living Native American community designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. The multi-storied adobe dwellings of Taos Pueblo have been continuously inhabited for over 1000 years.
Historic Taos Plaza may have a shorter pedigree than the Pueblo, but it has still been the center of local trade and gossip for centuries. Today, old mercantile stores house galleries, restaurants, and shops, and nearby Kit Carson Road, Bent Street, and Ledoux Street lead to even more historic homes, neighborhoods, and shopping areas.
Other must-see sites include the historic San Francisco de Asis Church in Ranchos de Taos and the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. You’ll remember the heart-stopping views long after your visit to Taos ends.
Portions of the Blumenschein Home and Museum were built in 1797. Ernest Blumenschein, co-founder of the Taos Society of Artists, brought his family to the Taos in 1919. The artist and his family lived there for more than 40 years.
Site of the early 20th century homes and studios of E.I. Couse and J.H. Sharp, founding members of the Taos Society of Artists. Gardens, 1830s chapel, 1930s machine shop and lab, brand-new research center, and galleries with exhibitions on the 2+ acre campus.
Come visit the home of New Mexico's first American governor, early trader, trapper and mountain man, Governor Charles Bent.
Hacienda Del Sol Bed & Breakfast is a wedding venue nestled at the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, with awe-inspiring views, stunning gardens, and inclusive packages, you're sure to cherish each loving moment spent at this hacienda.
Dating from the 1830’s, its thick adobe walls, heavy pine vigas, hand-crafted corbels and original altar tell of the intense faith that motivated the early settlers who built it, using only the simplest of tools: hands, wood and earth.
Step Back Into The 1850s at Taos' Oldest Museum featuring many items from the Kit Carson Estate.
Established as a memorial to Millicent Rogers, whose inspiration, patronage, and collections form the cores of its holdings.
In 1801 construction started on an adobe church with a flat roof and walls three to four feet thick. From 1826 to 1857 it served as the local priest Padre Antonio Jose Martínez’s headquarters.
San Francisco de Asis Church is a still-active 18th-century parish that, thanks to Ansel Adams and Georgia O’Keeffe, became a modern art icon—and a quintessential Taos landmark. It’s one of New Mexico’s most photographed churches.
Visit the Fechin House, home of the Taos Art Museum, for a truly authentic Taos experience. Delight in soft adobe walls, exquisitely carved furniture and woodwork, and some of the finest artworks ever created in Taos.
Taos Pueblo is the only living Native American community designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. The multi-storied adobe buildings have been continuously inhabited for over 1000 years.