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Taos Pueblo

Taos Pueblo, situated 1 mile (1.6 km) north of the Town of Taos, New Mexico, is the ancient pueblo of a Native American tribe, which used Northern Tiwa as its primary language. Taos Pueblo sits on Rio Pueblo, a Red Willow Creek that flows from the Sangre de Cristo Range. Inhabited for over 1000 years, this ancient pueblo is now a member of the Eight Northern Pueblos. It was apparently constructed between 1000 and 1450 A.D. and was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1960.

The most important architectural feature of Taos Pueblo is a multi-storied residential complex of reddish-brown adobe, equally divided into two parts by the Rio Pueblo. An area of nearly 95,000 acres (384.75 sq-km) is also attached to this World Heritage Site. This North-side Pueblo is the most photographed and painted building in the Western Hemisphere and was constructed mainly for defense. All the homes in this complex have two rooms each, one of which is for eating, cooking, and storage, and the other for general living and sleeping. There are absolutely passageways between these houses and each home is completely self-contained.

At present, Taos Pueblo is a permanent home to 150 people who make use of little furniture like beds, tables, and chairs. However, running water, electricity, and plumbing are strictly prohibited in the complex. The river running through the Pueblo is the main source for cooking and drinking water. The 3 main religions represented in the Pueblo are the Aboriginal religion, Christianity, and the Native American Church. An elementary school is also maintained behind the South Pueblo by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Taos Pueblo is the only living community of Native Americans that is recognized by UNESCO. The magnificent, multi-storied buildings in this complex are worth a visit when you travel to northern New Mexico.

• Telephone: (505) 758-1028
• Hours: 8 AM - 4:30 PM daily

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