Before Spanish colonialists settled in the Taos area in 1716, the area was home to Taos Native Americans who ranched and farmed in the area.[3] There was a Spanish settlement in the Ranchos de Taos area by 1742[4] and there may have been residents of the Taos Pueblo who had farmed in the fertile area before that, in which case they sought the shelter of the Taos Pueblo during attacks by Comanche tribes.[4][5]
The plaza is the original location of the village of Ranchos de Taos, built in the late 1770s.[6] In 1776, Francisco Atanasio Domínguez wrote that "the settlement consists of scattered ranchos, and their owners are the citizens who live in the pueblo."[4] At that time, Ranchos de Taos was the largest Spanish settlement in the Taos Valley.[7] It is believed the fortified plaza was built by 1780 when Juan Agustin de Morfi wrote that "the settlement forms a square plaza, very capricious. Its houses were almost finished in 1779 with towers at proportionate distances for their defense." The plaza included an observation platforms in round towers and torreones for defense.[4]
In 1840 Matt Field wrote during his travels through New Mexico of Ranchos de Taos: "This town called the ranch lies at the base of a gigantic mountain and is watered by a swift stream that rushes from the ravine... It contains about 300 houses, and those are built completely together, forming a wall, enclosing a large square, in the center of which stands a church."[4]
A video of the art and history of the mission church may be viewed at the parish office and gift shop, where santos and retablos made by local artists are sold. Along the plaza are adobe buildings that are now retail stores, galleries, and restaurants, one of which was a historic trading post, now Trading Post Cafe.[8][9]
^Taos districts. National Register of Historic Places. American Dreams, Inc. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
^Eric B. Wechter; Andrew Collins (2011). Santa Fe, Taos & Albuquerque: Where to Stay and Eat for All Budgets - Must-see Sights and Local Secrets - Ratings You Can Trust. Fodor's Travel Publications. p. 204. ISBN978-0-307-48055-2.
^ abcdeMarc Treib (January 1, 1993). Sanctuaries of Spanish New Mexico. University of California Press. pp. 188–192. ISBN978-0-520-06420-1.
^Federal Writers' Project. New Mexico: A Guide to the Colorful State. US History Publishers. p. 287. ISBN978-1-60354-030-8.
^ abDavid Pike (November 2003). Roadside New Mexico: A Guide to Historic Markers. UNM Press. p. 70. ISBN978-0-8263-3118-2.
^Roy A. Archuleta (2006). Where We Come from. Where We Come From, collect. p. 172. ISBN978-1-4243-0472-1.
^Jeanie Puleston Fleming. "The Powerful Simplicity of Ranchos de Taos." Sunset. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
^San Francisco de Asis Church. Taos.org. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ranchos de Taos Plaza.
Bird's-eye view & map
November 01, 2023
ranchos, taos, plaza, historic, district, ranchos, taos, mexico, about, four, miles, south, town, taos, mexico, there, buildings, over, acres, historic, district, including, francisco, assisi, mission, church, national, historic, landmark, national, register, . Ranchos de Taos Plaza is a historic district in Ranchos de Taos New Mexico about four miles south of the town of Taos New Mexico There are 21 buildings over 84 acres in the historic district 2 including the San Francisco de Assisi Mission Church a U S National Historic Landmark 1 Ranchos de Taos PlazaU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S Historic districtNM State Register of Cultural PropertiesSan Francisco de Asis Mission ChurchLocationOff US 64 Ranchos de Taos New MexicoCoordinates36 21 30 N 105 36 28 W 36 35833 N 105 60778 W 36 35833 105 60778Area8 5 acres 3 4 ha Built1779 1779 Architectural styleColonial New Mexico MissionNRHP reference No 78001830 1 NMSRCP No 51Significant datesAdded to NRHPOctober 2 1978Designated NMSRCPMarch 21 1969 Contents 1 Overview 2 Gallery 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksOverview editBefore Spanish colonialists settled in the Taos area in 1716 the area was home to Taos Native Americans who ranched and farmed in the area 3 There was a Spanish settlement in the Ranchos de Taos area by 1742 4 and there may have been residents of the Taos Pueblo who had farmed in the fertile area before that in which case they sought the shelter of the Taos Pueblo during attacks by Comanche tribes 4 5 The plaza is the original location of the village of Ranchos de Taos built in the late 1770s 6 In 1776 Francisco Atanasio Dominguez wrote that the settlement consists of scattered ranchos and their owners are the citizens who live in the pueblo 4 At that time Ranchos de Taos was the largest Spanish settlement in the Taos Valley 7 It is believed the fortified plaza was built by 1780 when Juan Agustin de Morfi wrote that the settlement forms a square plaza very capricious Its houses were almost finished in 1779 with towers at proportionate distances for their defense The plaza included an observation platforms in round towers and torreones for defense 4 Fray Jose Benito Pereyro priest of the Taos Pueblo agreed to serve the settlers of the village Around 1815 the San Francisco de Asis Mission Church was built under his direction 6 In 1840 Matt Field wrote during his travels through New Mexico of Ranchos de Taos This town called the ranch lies at the base of a gigantic mountain and is watered by a swift stream that rushes from the ravine It contains about 300 houses and those are built completely together forming a wall enclosing a large square in the center of which stands a church 4 A video of the art and history of the mission church may be viewed at the parish office and gift shop where santos and retablos made by local artists are sold Along the plaza are adobe buildings that are now retail stores galleries and restaurants one of which was a historic trading post now Trading Post Cafe 8 9 Gallery edit nbsp Ranchos de Taos Plaza shops nbsp San Francisco de Asis Mission Church nbsp San Francisco de Asis Mission Church nbsp Ranchos de Taos Plaza house nbsp Ranchos de Taos Plaza shop and church building nbsp Ranchos de Taos Plaza restaurantSee also edit nbsp National Register of Historic Places portalNational Register of Historic Places listings in Taos County New MexicoReferences edit a b National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 Taos districts National Register of Historic Places American Dreams Inc Retrieved July 23 2014 Eric B Wechter Andrew Collins 2011 Santa Fe Taos amp Albuquerque Where to Stay and Eat for All Budgets Must see Sights and Local Secrets Ratings You Can Trust Fodor s Travel Publications p 204 ISBN 978 0 307 48055 2 a b c d e Marc Treib January 1 1993 Sanctuaries of Spanish New Mexico University of California Press pp 188 192 ISBN 978 0 520 06420 1 Federal Writers Project New Mexico A Guide to the Colorful State US History Publishers p 287 ISBN 978 1 60354 030 8 a b David Pike November 2003 Roadside New Mexico A Guide to Historic Markers UNM Press p 70 ISBN 978 0 8263 3118 2 Roy A Archuleta 2006 Where We Come from Where We Come From collect p 172 ISBN 978 1 4243 0472 1 Jeanie Puleston Fleming The Powerful Simplicity of Ranchos de Taos Sunset Retrieved July 23 2014 San Francisco de Asis Church Taos org Retrieved July 23 2014 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ranchos de Taos Plaza Bird s eye view amp map Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ranchos de Taos Plaza amp oldid 1169399364, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
