The North and South Houses are the Pueblo's iconic structures - multi-story adobe apartment buildings that rise up to five levels, accessed traditionally by ladder through roof openings. The adobe is rebuilt annually, replastered with mud mixed by hand, maintaining structures that have stood for centuries. The style influenced later Spanish colonial architecture throughout the Southwest. The Pueblo sits at 7,200 feet, backed by Taos Mountain, which the community considers sacred and off-limits to outsiders. The entire complex - houses, ceremonial kivas, defensive walls - represents Puebloan architecture largely unchanged since the Spanish arrived in 1540.

Taos Pueblo has resisted conquest for five centuries. When Spanish colonizers arrived in 1540, they found an established community that refused easy subjugation. The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 began partly here; Taos warriors killed 70 Spanish settlers. After Spanish reconquest, resistance continued covertly - Catholicism was adopted publicly while traditional religion persisted privately. Mexico and then America claimed sovereignty; the Pueblo maintained its own governance. When the U.S. government tried to abolish Pueblo land titles, Taos led legal battles that eventually succeeded. The community that has lived here for 1,000 years has survived every attempt to remove or assimilate it.

Blue Lake, in the mountains above the Pueblo, is the community's most sacred site. The U.S. Forest Service controlled it for 64 years, using it for timber and recreation, until Taos Pueblo's 1970 lawsuit resulted in congressional return of the land. The victory was unprecedented - federal acknowledgment that indigenous spiritual sites deserved protection. The lake and surrounding 48,000 acres are now off-limits to non-Pueblo members. The community's insistence on maintaining sacred spaces, even when it meant rejecting economic development, reflects priorities that prioritize continuity over convenience.

Roughly 150 people live in the historic Pueblo complex year-round, choosing traditional life over modern amenities. Others live in newer housing on Pueblo lands, returning for ceremonies and community events. The Pueblo hosts traditional dances, some open to visitors, others closed. Artists and craftspeople sell pottery, jewelry, and other works. The entrance fee supports community maintenance. Visitors are reminded, sometimes pointedly, that this is a living community - photography restrictions exist, certain areas are off-limits, and respectful behavior is mandatory. The Pueblo is not a museum; it's a neighborhood with a 1,000-year tenure that tolerates visitors.

Taos Pueblo is located 2 miles north of Taos, New Mexico, accessible via Taos Pueblo Road. The Pueblo charges an entrance fee; additional fees apply for cameras and guided tours. Hours vary by season, and the Pueblo closes periodically for ceremonies - check in advance. Photography restrictions are strict: certain areas are off-limits, and photographing residents requires permission and sometimes payment. The San Geronimo Chapel and its adjacent ruins are accessible. Local artists sell work from homes and stalls. Combine with visits to downtown Taos, the Taos Art Museum, and Rio Grande Gorge. Visit with respect: you're entering someone's home, a community that has survived by protecting its boundaries.