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's a historic house museum and an art gallery. This house was once the home of a famous painter named Ernest L. Blumenschein (1874-1960). He was one of the people who started the Taos Society of Artists, a group of important artists. Because of its history, the house was named a National Historic Landmark in 1965.
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About the Blumenschein House
The Blumenschein House is on Ledoux Street in Taos. It's a single-story building made of adobe, which is a type of sun-dried brick. It has eleven rooms and is built in the traditional Spanish Pueblo style. There's a central courtyard, which is an open space in the middle of the house. A low wall with an opening separates the courtyard from the street.
How Old Is the House?
We don't know the exact year the house was built. However, the oldest parts of it were probably built before the 1820s. Imagine how many stories these old walls could tell!
What You'll See Inside
When you visit the museum, the inside looks like it did when the Blumenschein family lived there. You can see their personal belongings and a collection of their art. There are also artworks by other famous Taos artists. Plus, you'll find beautiful old European and Spanish Colonial style furniture. The Taos Historic Museums group owns and runs this special museum.
Ernest Blumenschein's Story
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 a wonderful place he had visited in New Mexico called Taos.
The Taos Art Colony Begins
Inspired by Sharp's stories, Blumenschein and another artist named Bert Phillips traveled to Taos in 1898. They loved the area so much that they decided to stay. They started what became known as the Taos Art Colony. This colony helped show the art world how beautiful Taos and the desert southwest were.
Blumenschein's Home and Studio
Ernest Blumenschein lived and worked in this very house from 1919 until 1960. Before he moved in, another artist named Herbert Dunton had used it as his home and studio. The house was already a popular spot where artists would meet and share ideas.
The House Becomes a Museum
After Ernest Blumenschein passed away, his family gave the house to the organization that is now Taos Historic Museums in 1962. For a short time, it was used as apartments. But then, it was turned into the museum and art gallery we can visit today. It's a great way to learn about art and history!
Gallery
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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
See also
