San José de Gracia Church

San José de Gracia Church is an adobe building standing in Las Trampas in Taos County with thick earthen walls that create a fortress-like structure. The building extends about 100 feet long and 52 feet wide, with walls measuring 4 to 6 feet thick that help regulate the interior temperature year-round.

The church was built between 1760 and 1776 and served the first Spanish colonial families who settled in Las Trampas in 1751. The village became established along the route connecting Santa Fe and Taos, where about twelve families made this location their home and religious center.

The church holds religious art from the 18th and 19th centuries, including detailed ceiling designs and works by local artists known as santeros who crafted devotional images. This artistic tradition reflects the deep Catholic faith that shaped the Spanish colonial settlement and continues to define the spiritual life of the community.

The building sits along New Mexico State Road 76 and maintains its original plaza layout, making it easy to locate and approach from the road. The thick adobe walls keep the interior cool and dim, which affects how you experience the interior decorations and artwork.

A roof window positioned above the nave directs natural light specifically toward the altar, an uncommon design in early Spanish colonial churches. This thoughtful solution shows how builders adapted the architecture to illuminate the sacred space despite the thick earthen walls.