Patricia Montgomery

One of the good things about driving down the Historic Route 66 is that there are so many interesting side trips. On Tuesday morning, we woke up to a warm southwestern sunrise in the beautiful Taos Valley nestled at the base of New Mexico’s Sangre De Cristo Mountains.

Taos has a history that dates back to the ancestors of the Pueblo people, commonly known as the Anasai. The room blocks and pit houses in the area verify their presence since 900 A.D.

AlthoughTaos has a long and colorful history, let’s jump forward to 1898 when two young artists from the East named Ernest Blumenshein and Bert Phillips came to Taos to get a broken wagon wheel fixed. Totally captivated by the beauty of the area, they stayed and were soon joined by other artists. By 1915 the Taos Society of Artists had been formed and the town of Taos was known world-wide as an artist haven.

Monty and I love to search out free stuff to do first. We drove down to the 200-year-old Taos Plaza with streets that radiate outward from the town square to form the National Historic District of Taos.

Stopping in one of the gift shops, we picked up the free 26-page “Walking Tour” brochure for a self-guided tour of 22 historic Taos landmarks. Starting in the heart of the plaza or town square, we visited the Kit Carson home/museum, the El Rincon Trading Post, The Couse House, Fechin House, and Old County Courthouse, to name only a few. The brochure included maps, photographs, and a written history of each of the 22 landmarks.

It was a lovely day for a stroll through Taos. The sun was shining and the temperatures were in the mid 70s. Spring was in the air and the tourist rush had not started yet. I was able to photograph many of these beautiful landmarks in their natural state without dozens of people standing around.

Arriving back at the Plaza around noon, we decided to have lunch at Ogilvie’s. From the 2nd floor covered balcony, we enjoyed delicious sandwiches while overlooking the downtown area. For dessert afterwards, we strolled over to the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for chocolate ice cream, which we consumed in leisure sitting on a bench in the plaza square.

After lunch we visited the Taos Pueblo. Located only a few miles north, the Taos Pueblo is the oldest continuously inhabited community in the United States. Interestingly, their native language – Tiwa – is unwritten, unrecorded, and will remain that way. Instead of the written word, the tribe relies solely on oral history handed down through the generations.

The pueblo looks today much like it did when the conquistadors first arrived around 1540. The only exception is the addition of doors. Before the doors were added, the only entry was by ladder through an opening in the roof which also was a source of light. The buildings are made entirely of adobe, which is a mixture of earth, straw, and water, which is poured into forms and then sun-dried. There is no electricity and no running water in the sacred village.

It costs $10 per person and $5 per camera to gain admission to the Taos Pueblo. You can join a group with a native tour guide or wander about the pueblo on your own. A note to all photographers, “All commercial and or professional photographers need prior approval through the tribal Governor’s Office.” All other photography is restricted to personal use.

Next we will travel the scenic route to Sipapu Ski Resort (Elev 9,000+) and begin a gradual drive back east on Route 66.