Imagine stepping into a place where the past and present live together. Where tall mountains rise against a brilliant blue sky and a river cuts through the New Mexico landscape. Then you see what seems to be a mirage. A village made of gold that looks almost like it grew straight out of the ground. Before you is Taos Pueblo. A place that has been home to Native people for more than 1,000 years. Children have played here for hundreds of years, families sharing stories of ancient traditions still being practiced today. At Taos Pueblo, history is all around you. Get ready for a journey into a place where mountains, stories, and ancient traditions come together to create a world that feels almost magical.

Near the river and the mountains of New Mexico this pueblo grew over many generations. Families shaped thick walls from earth, water, and straw. By the time Spanish explorers reached the area in the 1500s, Taos Pueblo was already an ancient community. The arrival of the Spanish conquistadores brought a new and difficult chapter. Spanish settlers claimed land, introduced new customs and religion, and tried to change the way the Pueblo people lived. Although the people of Taos were not warriors they did stand against the Spaniards. In 1680, an attack coordinated with other pueblos temporarily chased the Spaniards out of New Mexico and  back into Mexico.

Taos Pueblo suddenly became the setting for another battle in 1847. The United States took control of New Mexico as a result of the Mexican American War. Some people rebelled against the new government and the changes they brought. This became known as the Taos Revolt. U.S. soldiers marched on the pueblo surrounding it. Even though the battle was fierce, the fighters could not stand against the U.S. firepower of cannons and guns. The Pueblo and its traditions survived and it is now the only place in the world that is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Historic Landmark.

Little known facts about Taos:

The people of Taos Pueblo are sometimes called the Red Willow People. 

At one time there were no doors or windows; people used ladders through ceiling holes to enter their homes.

The doorways are painted blue to keep evil spirits away.

The buildings are made entirely of adobe that has to be recovered with mud every year.

The village is still governed by a Tribal Governor and War Chief