Taos Plaza

Taos Plaza is a center of shops and monuments within the Taos Downtown Historic District in Taos, New Mexico.

Taos Plaza and the Hotel La Fonda

Overview

The Taos Plaza is the historic center of the town of Taos. Once a Spanish fortified walled plaza with houses and businesses, it now has a park with shady trees, park benches, and a gazebo surrounded by retail businesses[1][2][3] made of adobe.[4] An anchor of the plaza is the Hotel La Fonda de Taos,[1] which has a small museum of D.H. Lawrence paintings[2] and a restaurant named Joseph's Table with hand-painted floral murals.[5] There is metered parking within the plaza and shopping includes galleries of Native American art and jewelry and souvenir shops.[6][7] The old courthouse and historic Taos jail are located on the north side of the Plaza.[8]

It is the central point for a walking tour of the Taos Downtown Historic District, which includes the Ernest L. Blumenschein House, Harwood Museum of Art, Governor Charles Bent House, Taos Inn, John Dunn House, Taos Art Museum, and the Nicolai Fechin House.[9][10]

It is located immediately west of the intersection of US 64 (Kit Carson Road) and NM 68.[11]

History
Main article: Taos Downtown Historic District

Located in Taos, New Mexico. Spanish settlers began colonization of the Taos Valley in 1616,[12] but the Plaza dates to the late 18th century when the Don Fernando de Taos Land Grant was ceded to Spanish settlers from the Taos Pueblo in 1796 by Don Fernando de Chacon, Governor of New Mexico.[12][13] It and the Taos Pueblo were the terminal points of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, or King's Highway, from Mexico City.[14]

Taos Plaza served for decades as the central meeting place in the valley and survived numerous fires that destroyed several older buildings.[12]

  • Taos Plaza looking northwest 1906
  • Taos Plaza, about 1907

Nearby is the home of Charles Bent, who was appointed Governor of New Mexico when it became an American Territory during the Mexican–American War. He was killed by Indian rebels during the Taos Revolt.[13]

American flag

In 1861, during the Civil War, Southern sympathizers repeatedly tore down the flag flying over the Plaza. Captain Smith Simpson with the help of Kit Carson, Ceran St. Vrain, and others guarded the flag 24 hours a day. Congress permitted Taos to fly the flag twenty-four hours a day to commemorate the event.[15][16]

Further information: United States Flag Code

Tourism

Taos Plaza is a tourist destination with many shops displaying Northern New Mexico foods and cultural items, including products made in Taos, chile ristras, packaged food items, Southwestern jewelry, pottery, clothing, leather work, and Native American moccasins and drums.[14]

The last week of July brings the Fiestas de Santa Ana y Santiago, a weekend long celebration of the Hispanic heritage of Taos when the plaza is filled with music, food, and dance.[17][18] It begins with a Friday night Mass and includes crowning of a fiesta queen. Other events, many of which are free, are held throughout the year in the plaza,[19] including free music in the summer and Yuletide celebrations in December.[20]

  • Taos Plaza, with shops, galleries and restaurants[21]
  • Taos Plaza and La Fonda Hotel, with sculpture of Padre Jose Antonio Martinez in the foreground
  • Taos Plaza, the gazebo was donated by Mabel Dodge Luhan[1]
  • Alley off of the north side of the Taos Plaza with additional shops
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References
  1. Paul Eisenberg (2007). Fodor's Santa Fe, Taos & Albuquerque. Fodor's Travel Publications. p. 146. ISBN 978-1-4000-1752-2.
  2. Samantha Cook (2004). USA. Rough Guides. p. 984. ISBN 978-1-84353-262-0.
  3. DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Southwest USA & Las Vegas. DK Publishing. 2 July 2012. p. 204. ISBN 978-0-7566-9344-2.
  4. Lonely Planet Southwest USA. Lonely Planet. 15 September 2010. p. 334. ISBN 978-1-74220-378-2.
  5. Paul Eisenberg (2007). Fodor's Santa Fe, Taos & Albuquerque. Fodor's Travel Publications. pp. 154–155. ISBN 978-1-4000-1752-2.
  6. Paul Eisenberg (2007). Fodor's Santa Fe, Taos & Albuquerque. Fodor's Travel Publications. p. 172. ISBN 978-1-4000-1752-2.
  7. Active Interest Media, Inc. (2008). Collector's Guide. Active Interest Media, Inc. p. 278. ISSN 1073-2063.
  8. "Walking Tour | Map and Brochure of the Historical Sites of Taos". Taos.org. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
  9. Eric B. Wechter; Andrew Collins (2011). Sante Fe, Taos & Albuquerque: Where to Stay and Eat for All Budgets - Must-see Sights and Local Secrets - Ratings You Can Trust. Fodor's Travel Publications. pp. 198–201. ISBN 978-0-307-48055-2.
  10. Active Interest Media, Inc. (2008). Collector's Guide. Active Interest Media, Inc. pp. 270–306. ISSN 1073-2063.
  11. Lawrence W. Cheek (December 2007). Santa Fe: Taos and Northern Pueblos. Fodor's Travel Publications. p. 132. ISBN 978-1-4000-1866-6.
  12. Lyn Bleiler, Society of the Muse of Southwest. Images of America: Taos. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. 2011. ISBN 0-7385-7959-9
  13. Taos History. Archived 2015-01-21 at the Wayback Machine Taos Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  14. Phil T. Archuletta; Sharyl Holden; Sharyl S. Holden (2004). Traveling New Mexico: A Guide to the Historical and State Park Markers. Sunstone Press. p. 376. ISBN 978-1-61139-117-6.
  15. Sovereignty La Plaza. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  16. Den Galbraith (15 November 2011). Turbulent Taos. Sunstone Press. p. 32. ISBN 978-1-61139-046-9.
  17. Fiestas de Santa Ana y Santiago. Fiestadetaos.com Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  18. Francisco A. Lomelí; Victor A. Sorell; Genaro M. Padilla (2002). Nuevomexicano Cultural Legacy: Forms, Agencies, and Discourse. UNM Press. pp. 185–186. ISBN 978-0-8263-2224-1.
  19. Lesley S. King (2 November 2010). Frommer's Santa Fe, Taos and Albuquerque. John Wiley & Sons. p. 33. ISBN 978-0-470-94629-9.
  20. Active Interest Media, Inc. (2008). Collector's Guide. Active Interest Media, Inc. p. 274. ISSN 1073-2063.
  21. Linda Hayes (December 2005). Culture Club: A melting pot of ethnicities and traditions, Taos offers lodging options as unique and varied as the town itself. Ski. p. 78. ISSN 0037-6159.

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