Have you been to adobe houses in Taos Pueblo?
Adobe was a strange and new rod for me. ‘Adobe? Isn’t that the name of a company?’ was my first thought before I went to the adobe houses in Taos Pueblo. It’s the joy of being a second language speaker.
adobe |əˈdōbē|
noun
a kind of clay used as a building material, typically in the form of sun-dried bricks: [as adj. ] adobe houses.
• a brick of such a type.
• a building constructed from such material.
Yep, it’s a building material. And Taos Pueblo people New Mexico are well known for their adobe architecture. In fact, adobe buildings are one of the significant features of the Southwest of America. This village in Taos Pueblo is one of the oldest continually inhabited communities in North America. They have been here since the 1200s. The current buildings are annually repaired and recoated with mud. There are about 150 people living on the reservation out of 2,000 tribal members. They are keeping this UNESCO Heritage as it was. Because of the structural weakness, they won’t allow people to use gas or water pipes in their buildings. It seems extreme, but that’s their way of protecting and continuing their culture and tradition.
You can tour the Taos Pueblo adobe houses
The tour was remarkable. There’s no actual gate; just walk right into their reservation, where the people are living. We can walk around the village, look around the shops, and talk to people on the street. During this summer’s road trip, I had quite a few chances to meet Native Americans, and every single one of them has a remarkably sad and impressive history regarding the Spanish and the US government. Taos Pueblo people aren’t an exception. It’s wonderful that despite what happened in the past, they still cherish their life and are still trying to keep it going.
The adobe buildings are not new to me, in fact. Just the word adobe was new. To this day, building a house with mud and straw is one of the healthiest methods Korean people are using. It’s cool in the summer and warm in the winter. I guess people who are from old times without air conditioning and heaters figured all things out already.
No doors in adobe houses – use the ladder instead
One of the most memorable things on the reservation was the fact there was no door in the old days. I can see why they didn’t try to put a door on the adobe wall. The ladder is a common thing to see around the village, and the reason was that they had to climb up to the roof to get into the house. Well now they don’t have to, but still, ladders are one of the most significant items in the reservation.
Visiting Taos Pueblo Adobe Houses
- The entry fee is $25/ person, but you have to purchase a Camera pass in advance.
- Respect people’s space and please ask them first if you want to take their picture. Most of them would say yes.
- Please check to see if they are open before making a plan.
