A visit to Taos Pueblo is a journey through time, offering a glimpse into the only living Native American community recognized as both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Historic Landmark. Just three miles northeast of Taos Plaza, this remarkable village has been continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years. Archaeologists believe the ancestors of the Taos people lived in this valley long before Columbus arrived in the Americas—predating even Europe’s emergence from the Dark Ages. The Pueblo’s iconic adobe structures, built between 1000 and 1450 C.E., stood much as they do today when Spanish explorers first arrived in 1540, believing they had discovered one of the legendary golden cities of Cíbola.

Taos Pueblo consists of numerous individual homes, built side by side and stacked in layers with shared walls but no connecting doors. In ancient times, entry was only possible through rooftop openings accessed by ladders, as there were no doors or windows. Constructed entirely of adobe—earth mixed with water and straw—its thick walls provide durability and insulation. The roofs, supported by large vigas (timber beams) from the surrounding mountains, are layered with aspen or pine latillas and packed earth. To maintain the Pueblo’s integrity, its exterior walls are continually replastered with fresh mud, while interior surfaces are coated with white earth for a bright, clean appearance. This ongoing preservation ensures Taos Pueblo remains a thriving testament to history—one that has endured for a millennium and will continue for generations to come.