Ranchos de Taos Plaza facts for kids
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Ranchos de Taos Plaza
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San Francisco de Asis Mission Church
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 Location in New Mexico
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| Location | Off US 64, Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico |
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| Area | 8.5 acres (3.4 ha) |
| Built | 1779 |
| Architectural style | Colonial, New Mexico Mission |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001830 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 2, 1978 |
The Ranchos de Taos Plaza is a special historic area in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico. It's located about four miles south of the town of Taos, New Mexico. This historic district covers 84 acres and includes 21 important buildings. One of the most famous buildings here is the San Francisco de Asis Mission Church. This church is so important that it's recognized as a U.S. National Historic Landmark.
Contents
Discovering Ranchos de Taos Plaza
A Look Back in Time
Before Spanish settlers arrived in the Taos area around 1716, the land was home to the Taos Pueblo Native Americans. They used the fertile land for farming and raising animals. Spanish people started settling in the Ranchos de Taos area by 1742. It's possible that some Taos Pueblo residents farmed here even earlier. If so, they would have gone back to the Taos Pueblo for safety when Comanche tribes attacked.
The Fortified Village Plaza
The plaza is the original center of the village of Ranchos de Taos. It was built in the late 1770s. In 1776, a traveler named Francisco Atanasio Domínguez wrote about the area. He said that the settlement had many scattered farms. The people who owned these farms lived in the main village. At that time, Ranchos de Taos was the biggest Spanish settlement in the Taos Valley.
It's believed that the plaza was built like a fortress by 1780. Juan Agustin de Morfi wrote that the settlement formed a "square plaza, very capricious." He noted that its houses were almost finished in 1779. They even had towers at different spots for defense. The plaza also had special observation platforms in round towers. These were called torreones and helped protect the village.
The Famous San Francisco de Asis Mission Church
Fray Jose Benito Pereyro was a priest from the Taos Pueblo. He agreed to serve the settlers in the village of Ranchos de Taos. Around 1815, the beautiful San Francisco de Asis Mission Church was built under his guidance.
In 1840, a writer named Matt Field traveled through New Mexico. He described Ranchos de Taos as a town at the base of a huge mountain. A fast stream from a ravine watered the area. He wrote that the town had about 300 houses. These houses were built very close together, forming a wall around a large square. In the middle of this square stood the church. This shows how the plaza was designed for protection.
Today, you can learn more about the art and history of the mission church. There's a video at the parish office and gift shop. You can also find santos and retablos there. These are religious artworks made by local artists. Along the plaza, you'll see old adobe buildings. Many of these are now shops, art galleries, and restaurants. One of these restaurants used to be a historic trading post.
Gallery
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Shops at Ranchos de Taos Plaza
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San Francisco de Asis Mission Church
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San Francisco de Asis Mission Church
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A house at Ranchos de Taos Plaza
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A shop and church building at Ranchos de Taos Plaza
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A restaurant at Ranchos de Taos Plaza
