BajaNomad

A Couple of Missions in New Mexico

DianaT - 4-7-2012 at 07:40 PM

On the high road between Santa Fe and Taos is the town of Las Trampas where the mission San José de Gracia is still in operation. By some, it is considered one of the best existing examples of the Spanish missions in New Mexico. The beginning was in 1751, completed in 1780 and restored in the 1970s. Unfortunately we were not there on one of the days it is open and we only took a couple of quick pictures as it was beginning to rain/snow. One of the interesting places to visit along that high road.





The Pecos National Historical Park is another interesting place to visit. The history of the people who lived there is quite interesting. They were often the traders between the nomadic groups and some of the other pueblos and had differences with some of the other pueblos. The first brief contact with the Spanish was in 1540 and then again in 1590. In 1598 a priest was sent by the Spanish governor to the pueblo to try to convert the people and suppress their native religions---a church was started and later replaced by a bigger one --- the pictures are of the ruins of that church.

In 1690 they were led a coalition of the Pueblos in a temporarily successful revolt against the invaders---the Spanish. But in the end, the Spanish returned and took control. The decline began and when in 1838 there were only 17 residents and then moved to the pueblo of Jemez where the people spoke their language.

A few views of what is left of "La Mission de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles."







And this just caught my eye--- a little creative touch to a wall.



New Mexico is a great place to visit---