La Morada de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe

La Morada de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe is a religious sanctuary in Taos County built with traditional adobe walls, wooden beams, and New Mexican architectural features. The simple structure contains multiple rooms arranged around a courtyard area that served for religious gatherings and ceremonies.

The land was granted between 1797 and 1798 by Taos Pueblo authorities, with construction finished in 1834 under Padre Antonio José Martínez. Ownership changed hands several times over later decades, including a period when the Kit Carson Memorial Foundation held it before returning to the Catholic Church.

The sanctuary belongs to the Penitentes brotherhood, a lay religious group that gathered here to practice Spanish Catholic traditions and maintain their spiritual community. Visitors can sense how central this place was to their identity and way of life.

The grounds are open to visitors during daylight hours, though the interior spaces require permission from religious authorities to enter. It is best to contact those in charge beforehand if you wish to see inside and visit respectfully.

The site spent time under the management of the Kit Carson Memorial Foundation before returning to the Catholic Church in 2008. These shifts in ownership reveal the building's complex history and its importance to different communities across the decades.

Location: Taos County

GPS coordinates: 36.40640,-105.56300

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:45