Taos Scenic Loop Trail

High Road to Taos

We set off on an all-day road tour. The "High Road" runs north between Santa Fe and Taos. We returned via the "Low Road".

There were very interesting windblown formations as we moved up into the mountains.

San Jose de la Garcia Catholic Church

This church was built in 1760 and is considered one of the best-preserved examples of Spanish Colonial Architecture. Parishioners periodically re-mud the adobe walls which are six feet thick.

Lunch Time

We found an unusual lunch stop called the Farmhouse Restaurant in Taos. 

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

Just west of Taos, we crossed the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. On the west side of the bridge is a rest area and ample parking to allow sightseers to walk around and across the bridge.

The bridge has a total length of 1,272 feet with a 28-foot roadway.

The bridge, built in 1965 cost only $2,153,000.

The bridge is 565 feet above the Rio Grande River.

The Rio Grande River Gorge is deep and narrow at this point.

We took our Ranger down a very steep dirt road to the bottom of the Gorge.

This area of the Gorge is within Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.

We followed the river road as it emerges from the Gorge at the south entrance of the Monument.

This is the south entrance of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, established in 2013.

Puebloan Ruins Around Santa Fe

Pecos National Historical Park

All around the four corners area are many ancestral Pueblo villages dating from before Christ's birth, up to about 1700. The Pecos Pueblo was occupied from about 1350 to 1838. Located on the busy trade route between the people of Rio Grande Valley farming to the west and the Plains peoples to the east, Pecos grew to over a population of over 2,000. Spanish conquistadors, led by Coronado arrived at Pecos Pueblo in 1541 in search of the legendary seven cities of gold. After having found no gold, he moved on.

We joined a ranger led walk around the Pueblo and Mission Ruins Trail. 

This is one of the few Kivas that had been fully restored, including the roof.

The tour took us down into the Kiva. 

Foundations of the pueblo, some of which rose four to five stories.

While trying to convert the people of Pecos, in 1610, the Franciscan Friars destroyed kivas, smashed statues and banned Pueblo ceremonies and language.

With Pecos labor the friars built a very elaborate mission church.

By 1680 the Pecos people executed a successful revolt and drove the Spanish out, destroying the church and providing them with about 12 years of peace before the Spanish returned.

The Spanish settlement was separate and located near the mission.

Coronado State Historic Site

Kuaua Pueblo is located within the current city of Bernalillo, just north of Albuquerque.

This site was occupied from 1325 until the 1930's.

The walls were constructed of earthen bricks rather than rocks and stones.

Walking Tour of Downtown Santa Fe

New Mexico State Capitol

Santa Fe has a very pleasant and unique downtown area that is called old town. We obtained a very detailed walking tour map of this area from the visitor center, which is located directly across from the state capital building at the beginning of the tour route.

The capital building constructed in 1966 in the New Mexico Territorial Style, which is an adaptation of Greek Revival and Pueblo adobe architecture. 

The building is constructed in the round.

The central floor contains the official Zia sun symbol, representing a circular sun with linear rays extending in four directions.

A dome tops the center core of the building.

We visited both the House and the Senate Chambers which are almost identical in appearance.

San Miguel Church

The oldest church building in the U.S., built in 1610.

This original altar was built by the Tlaxcalan Tribe under the direction of the Franciscan Padres.

De Vargas Street House "The Oldest House"

This is one of the oldest houses in America, sitting on the foundation of an ancient pueblo dated around 1200.

Loretto Chapel

The Loretto Chapel was built in 1873 for a girl's school by the Sisters of Loretto.

Loretto Chapel is best known for its "miraculous" spiral staircase, which rises 20 feet to the choir loft, without the support of a newel or central pole. The staircase is built mostly out of wood and is held together by wooden pegs no glue, nails or other hardware. The church was originally built without a stairway to the choir loft. Ladders were used. The Sisters agreed, a staircase was needed, but most architects agreed that to build one would detract too much from the space inside the Chapel. So, the Sisters prayed for nine days to St. Joseph for a solution. God sent a carpenter (whom the Sisters believed was St. Joseph himself) and he took six months to construct this impressive staircase and then after it was finished, disappeared into the night. To this day, architects are amazed at this construction.

Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

This beautiful cathedral was built between 1869 and 1886.

This elaborate baptismal font is located in the center of sanctuary.

St. Peter and St. Paul in stained glass

Santa Fe Art District

Santa Fe is well known for its Arts District

One of the many studios in the downtown area.

Georgia O'Keeffe Museum

We spent about an hour going through a very nice collection of Georgia O'Keeffe's work.

Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986)

Ram's Head, Blue Morning Glory, 1938 (Virginia's favorite)

This one was Kurt's favorite

Cross of the Martyrs

The cross which overlooks Santa Fe, was erected in the early part of the 20th century to honor the twenty-one Franciscan priests who were martyred during the Pueblo Revolt of 1680.