Taos Plaza facts for kids
Taos Plaza is a special place in Taos, New Mexico. It's a busy center with shops and monuments. You can find it in the Taos Downtown Historic District.
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Discovering Taos Plaza
Taos Plaza is the historic heart of Taos town. Long ago, it was a walled Spanish fort with homes and businesses. Today, it's a lovely park with cool, shady trees and benches. There's also a gazebo, which is a small, open building. All around the park are shops made of adobe, a traditional building material.
A famous building here is the Hotel La Fonda de Taos. It has a small museum showing paintings by D.H. Lawrence. The hotel also has a restaurant with beautiful hand-painted murals. You can find places to park in the plaza. The shops sell amazing Native American art and jewelry. There are also many souvenir shops. The old courthouse and historic Taos jail are on the north side of the Plaza.
The Plaza is a great starting point for a walking tour. You can explore the Taos Downtown Historic District. This area includes places like the Ernest L. Blumenschein House and the Harwood Museum of Art. You can also see the Governor Charles Bent House, the Taos Inn, and the Taos Art Museum.
The Plaza is located just west of where two main roads meet. These are US 64 (Kit Carson Road) and NM 68.
History of Taos Plaza
People from Spain started settling in the Taos Valley in 1616. But Taos Plaza itself began later, in the late 1700s. In 1796, a Spanish governor gave land to settlers from the Taos Pueblo. This land became the Plaza.
Taos Plaza and the Taos Pueblo were the end points of an important road. This road was called the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro. It was like a "King's Highway" that stretched all the way from Mexico City.
For many years, Taos Plaza was the main meeting spot in the valley. It survived several fires that destroyed older buildings around it.
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Taos Plaza looking northwest in 1906
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Taos Plaza, around 1907
Close by is the home of Charles Bent. He was chosen to be the governor of New Mexico. This happened when New Mexico became part of the United States. Sadly, he was killed during a conflict called the Taos Revolt.
The American Flag at Taos Plaza
In 1861, during the American Civil War, some people who supported the Southern states kept taking down the American flag flying over the Plaza. Captain Smith Simpson, along with famous people like Kit Carson and Ceran St. Vrain, protected the flag. They guarded it day and night.
Because of their bravery, the United States Congress gave Taos a special permission. Taos is allowed to fly the American flag 24 hours a day. This remembers the time the flag was bravely protected.
Fun for Visitors at Taos Plaza
Taos Plaza is a popular place for visitors. Many shops sell foods and cultural items from Northern New Mexico. You can find things made right in Taos. There are also chile ristras, which are strings of red chili peppers. You can buy packaged food items and beautiful Southwestern jewelry.
The shops also offer pottery, clothing, and leather goods. You might find Native American moccasins and drums.
Every year, during the last week of July, the Plaza hosts the Fiestas de Santa Ana y Santiago. This is a weekend-long party celebrating the Hispanic history of Taos. The Plaza fills with music, food, and dancing. It starts with a special church service on Friday night. A fiesta queen is also crowned.
Many other events happen throughout the year at the Plaza. Many of these events are free! You can enjoy free music in the summer. There are also special Yuletide celebrations in December.
Images for kids
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Taos Plaza, with shops, galleries and restaurants
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Taos Plaza and La Fonda Hotel, with a sculpture of Padre Jose Antonio Martinez
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Taos Plaza, the gazebo was given by Mabel Dodge Luhan
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An alley off the north side of Taos Plaza with more shops
