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The San Francisco de Asís Mission Church sits about four miles outside Taos, New Mexico, in the historic center of Rancho de Taos.
History
The San Francisco de Asís Mission Church was built between 1772 and 1816, replacing an older church. It’s one of the finest examples of a New Mexico Spanish colonial church, and is architecturally and artistically significant. The church is one of the few original colonial buildings standing in Taos.
Visiting
The church is typically open daily from 9am to 4pm. It was unfortunately closed when we stopped by, so we were unable to enter.
Architecture
The church is made of adobe and is about 120 feet (37 meters) long. It features unusual beehive shaped adobe buttresses at the end of the transepts and the entrance is flanked by a pair of bell towers. Every year, parishioners and community volunteers gather to re-plaster the church with adobe.
Art Subject
The San Francisco de Asís Mission Church has been a popular subject for some of the most important American artists. In fact, the Taos Chamber of Commerce claims the church is one of the most photographed and painted churches in the world.
Some of the artists who portrayed the church in their work include painter Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986); and photographers Ansel Adams (1902-1984), Paul Strand (1890-1976), and Ned Scott (1907-1964). O’Keeffe called it “one of the most beautiful buildings left in the United States by the early Spaniards.”
