Taos in Taos County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Taos

Population 3369 — Elevation 6983 ft.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, April 22, 2013

1. Taos Marker

Inscription.

The Spanish community of Taos developed two miles southwest of Taos Pueblo. It later served as a supply base for the “Mountain Men,” and was the home of Kit Carson who is buried here. Governor Charles Bent was killed here in the anti-U.S. insurrection of 1847. In the early 1900’s, Taos developed as a colony for artists and writers.

Erected by New Mexico Historic Preservation Division.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1847.

Location. 36° 23.672′ N, 105° 34.792′ W. Marker is in Taos, New Mexico, in Taos County. Marker is on Paseo del Pueblo Sur (State Road 68) east of Paseo del Cañon East (State Road 585), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Taos NM 87571, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Harwood Museum (approx. 0.8 miles away); Kenneth Adams (approx. 0.8 miles away); Ernest Blumenschein (approx. 0.8 miles away); William Herbert "Buck" Dunton (approx. 0.8 miles away); Casa Pintor (approx. 0.8 miles away); Ledoux Street

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(approx. 0.8 miles away); Taos Plaza (approx. 0.9 miles away); a different marker also named Taos Plaza (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Taos.

Also see . . .
1. Mountain Man at Wikipedia. “A mountain man is a trapper and explorer who lives in the wilderness. Mountain men were most common in the North American Rocky Mountains from about 1810 through the 1880s (with a peak population in the early 1840s). They were instrumental in opening up the various Emigrant Trails (widened into wagon roads) allowing Americans in the east to settle the new territories of the far west by organized wagon trains traveling over roads explored and in many cases, physically improved by the mountain men and the big fur companies originally to serve the mule train based inland fur trade.”

“Kit Carson (1809–1868) achieved notability for his later exploits, but he got his start and gained some recognition as a trapper. Carson explored the west to California, and north through the Rocky Mountains. He lived among and married into the Arapaho and Cheyenne tribes. He was hired by John C. Fremont as a guide, and led ‘the Pathfinder’ through much of California, Oregon and the Great Basin area. He achieved national fame through

Taos Marker Reverse image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, April 22, 2013

2. Taos Marker Reverse

Fremont. Stories of his life as a mountain man turned him into a frontier hero-figure: the prototypical mountain man of his time.” (Submitted on July 4, 2013.)

2. Taos Revolt (1847 insurrection) Wikipedia entry. “The Taos Revolt was a popular insurrection in January 1847 by Mexicans and Pueblo allies against the United States’ occupation of present-day northern New Mexico during the Mexican–American War. In two short campaigns, United States troops and militia crushed the rebellion of the Mexicans and their allies. The rebels regrouped and fought three more engagements, but after being defeated, they abandoned open warfare.” (Submitted on July 4, 2013.)

3. Charles Bent Wikipedia Entry. “Charles Bent (1799–1847) was appointed as the first civilian Governor of the newly acquired New Mexico Territory by military Governor Stephen Watts Kearny in September 1846. Bent had been working as a fur trader in the region since 1828, with his younger brother William and later partner Ceran St. Vrain. Though his office was in Santa Fe, Bent maintained his residence and a store in Taos. On January 19, 1847, he was scalped and killed by Pueblo attackers during the Taos Revolt.” (Submitted on July 4, 2013.)

4. Taos Art Colony - Wikipedia Entry. “In 1898 a visit of

Photographed By J. J. Prats, April 22, 2013

3. Taos Marker

Bert Geer Phillips and Ernest L. Blumenschein to Taos, New Mexico was one of the first steps in the creation of the Taos art colony and the Taos Society of Artists. In addition to the attention brought by the Taos Society of Artists, Mabel Dodge Luhan was instrumental in promoting Taos to artists and writers within her circle, which led a new generation of artists to Taos. In the early 20th century modern artists infused the area with an new artistic energy, followed in the 1950s by abstract artists. Taos supports more than 80 galleries and three museums. There are a number of organizations that support and promote the work of artists on the Taos Pueblo and in the Taos area.” (Submitted on July 4, 2013.)

Pastel by Helmut Naumer, Sr.; National Park Service, circa 1935

4. Taos Pueblo

“Taos is instantly recognizable, with its multi-storied buildings and high mountains in the background. Today this pueblo has thousands of visitors from all over the world. In Naumer’s time it was quieter and had fewer non-Pueblo visitors. Pastel, paper. H. 30.5, L. 47.0 cm [H. 12, W 18½ inches], framed.” — Wikipedia, photo and caption by Tillman.

Photographed By Richard Denney

5. Taos Pueblo

Taos Pueblo, a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. The multi-storied adobe buildings have been continuously inhabited for over 1000 years.

Photographed By Richard Denney, October 18, 2013

6. Taos Pueblo

Sign greeting visitors to Taos Pueblo

Credits. This page was last revised on October 24, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 4, 2013, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 887 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 4, 2013, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 5, 6. submitted on October 31, 2013, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas.