Ernest L. Blumenschein House facts for kids
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Ernest L. Blumenschein House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Ernest L. Blumenschein House in 1969
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 Location in New Mexico
Location in the United States
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| Location | 222 Ledoux St., Taos, New Mexico |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1823 |
| Architectural style | Colonial, Spanish Colonial |
| Part of | Taos Downtown Historic District (ID82003340) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000495 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 21, 1965 |
| Designated CP | July 8, 1982 |
The Ernest L. Blumenschein House is a special place in Taos, New Mexico. It is a historic house museum and an art gallery. This house was once the home of a famous painter named Ernest L. Blumenschein. He lived there from 1919 until 1960. Ernest Blumenschein was one of the artists who started the Taos Society of Artists. This group helped make Taos a well-known art center. The house was recognized as a very important historical site in 1965.
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About the Blumenschein House
The Blumenschein House is located on Ledoux Street in Taos. It is not far from the main town plaza. The house is made of adobe, which is a type of sun-dried brick. It has eleven rooms and is built in the Spanish Pueblo style. This means it has a central courtyard. A low wall separates the courtyard from the street.
What the House Looks Like Inside
No one is completely sure when the house was first built. Some parts might be older than the 1820s. Today, the inside of the house looks much like it did when the Blumenschein family lived there. You can see their personal belongings and a collection of their art. The museum also displays art by other famous Taos artists. There are also beautiful old European and Spanish Colonial style antiques. The Taos Historic Museums group owns and runs this museum.
Ernest Blumenschein and the Taos Art Colony
Ernest Blumenschein was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He studied art in different cities like Cincinnati, New York City, and Paris. While in Paris, he met another artist, Joseph Henry Sharp. Sharp told him about his visit to Taos in 1883.
How the Taos Art Colony Started
In 1898, Blumenschein and another artist named Bert Phillips traveled to Taos. They loved the area and decided to start the Taos Art Colony there. Ernest Blumenschein used this house as his home and art studio for many years. He lived and worked there from 1919 until 1960. Before him, another artist named Herbert Dunton also used the house as his home and studio. The house was already a popular meeting spot for artists.
Influence of the Art Colony
The art colony started by these artists became very important. It helped show the art world how beautiful Taos and the desert southwest were. The house stayed with the Blumenschein family until 1962. Then, his family gave it to the organization that is now Taos Historic Museums. After being used as apartments for a while, it was turned into the museum and art gallery you can visit today.
Images for kids
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Dining room in Blumenschein Home. This section of the house was built in 1797.
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Library in Blumenschein Home, 2010
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Library, Blumenschein painting above daybed is Railroad Yard, Meeting Called (reworked 1951)
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Bedroom in Blumenschein Home, 1989
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