Ranchos de Taos Plaza, Historic district in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico.
Ranchos de Taos Plaza is a historic district in New Mexico organized around the San Francisco de Asis Mission Church, which stands as its central landmark. The surrounding adobe buildings form a compact settlement that preserves Spanish colonial settlement patterns.
Spanish settlers established this settlement in the 1770s as a fortified plaza with defensive structures to protect against raids from nomadic tribes. The mission church was added later and eventually became the spiritual and social heart of the community.
The adobe structures around the plaza serve as galleries and shops where local residents and visitors interact throughout the day. These spaces reflect how the community has maintained traditional uses while adapting to contemporary needs.
The plaza is accessible via U.S. Route 64 and lies a short drive south of Taos with parking available near the main area. Walking slowly through the grounds allows you to notice the varied textures and features of the adobe architecture.
A cafe operates within one of the original trading structures, maintaining the commercial continuity that has existed for centuries. This ongoing use demonstrates how everyday commerce has remained central to the place throughout its history.
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