Taos Art Museum at the Fechin House
…A place where art, architecture, and heritage converge in the heart of Taos.
Discover the Setting
Housed at 227 Paseo del Pueblo Norte in Taos, New Mexico, the museum occupies the former home and studio of renowned Russian-American artist Nicolai Fechin, who designed and built the space between 1927 and 1933.
The building itself is an architectural masterpiece: an adobe structure blending Pueblo and Mission Revival styles with Fechin’s own carved woodwork—columns, doors, railings, furniture—all crafted by his hand.
As the museum puts it, it is “an inspiring blend of art, architecture, and history in one extraordinary location.”
What You’ll Experience
Historic Home & Studio: Walk through the Fechin House and Studio, absorbing the rich detailing—every carved door, door pull, and copper light fixture reflects Fechin’s craftsmanship and fusion of Russian, Hispanic, and Native American influences.
Permanent and Rotating Exhibitions: The museum exhibits works by Fechin himself alongside paintings from the early-20th-century Taos art colony—members of the Taos Society of Artists and the later Taos Moderns.
Gardens & Museum Store: Relax in the surrounding gardens, and explore the Museum Store featuring local artisan-made gifts.
Accessibility & Visitor Info: The first floor, studio, gardens, and the Museum Store are wheelchair accessible; service animals welcome.
Why It Matters
The Fechin House is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and on New Mexico’s Register of Cultural Properties.
The museum not only preserves the legacy of Fechin, but actively champions the larger Taos art tradition—an important link in the region’s creative heritage.
According to visitor feedback, the integration of artwork and home architecture makes this one of the most compelling small museums in Taos.
Visitor Snapshot
Open Tuesday through Sunday, April-October 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., November-March 12:00p.m. - 4:00p.m. Closed Mondays
Adult admission rings in around $20, with discounts for seniors, military, students. Children 12 and under enter free. Taos County residents enter free every Sunday with valid ID.
Expect to spend about 1 to 2 hours, depending on how thoroughly you explore the house, the studio, and the gardens. Tripadvisor
There is no admission charged to visit the gardens and the Fechin Studio
Capturing the Atmosphere
Imagine stepping into rooms where the warm glow of carved pine beams and the deep texture of hand-hewn furniture surround you. The light floods through windows, the views of the Sangre de Cristo mountains frame each moment, and Fechin’s art and architecture merge into one immersive experience. As one visitor described:
“The woodworking in the home, all done by Fechin, is alone worth the visit.” TripAdvisor
Plan Your Visit
Location: 227 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, Taos, NM 87571, in Taos Historic District, an easy walk to the Taos Plaza and shopping.
Parking: Ample free parking on-site.
Photography: Non-flash photography is encouraged.
Whether you’re drawn by the region’s art legacy, the architectural wonder of Fechin’s home, or simply seeking a unique cultural experience in Taos, the Taos Art Museum at the Fechin House offers a rich and intimate encounter.
Harwood Museum of Art
Tucked along historic Ledoux Street, just a short walk from Taos Plaza, the Harwood Museum of Art has been part of Taos’s creative landscape for over a century. Founded in 1923 by Burt and Elizabeth Harwood, it’s one of the oldest art museums in New Mexico and still reflects the layered cultural story of this place. The adobe building itself feels rooted—thick walls, quiet courtyards, and rooms that open like chapters in a long conversation about art and identity.
What You’ll See
Early Taos Artists – Paintings and sculptures from the Taos Society of Artists, whose members helped introduce this region’s light and landscape to the wider world.
The Taos Moderns – Mid-century abstract works that pushed regional art into new territory while keeping its sense of place.
The Agnes Martin Gallery – A serene, light-filled room designed to the artist’s own specifications, housing seven of her signature paintings. Many visitors describe the space as meditative—something close to a sanctuary.
Contemporary Voices – Rotating exhibitions feature artists working today, often exploring questions of land, heritage, and belonging.
Why It Matters
The Harwood isn’t a grand museum meant to impress; it’s an honest one meant to connect. Its collection tells the story of how artists—Native, Hispanic, and Anglo—have looked at the same mountains and found different truths. Exhibits and programs continue to invite that dialogue, showing that the Taos art story isn’t finished—it’s ongoing.
Plan Your Visit
Location: 238 Ledoux Street, Taos, NM 87571
Hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 11 am–5 pm
Admission: General $15. Seniors (65+) $12. Teachers and Students with ID $8, Free for 18 and under UNM staff, faculty and students, Active-duty military and veterans (with ID) and their families, Tribal members, EBT/SNAP card holders, Taos County educators (with ID). All Taos County residents (with ID) Free admission every Sunday. Groups of $10 or larger $8 per person. Guided tours for groups available for $5 per person additional.
Parking: Free parking in the small lower lot between Ledoux Street and Ranchitos Road
Nearby
Ledoux Street itself is worth exploring—historic homes, small galleries, and studios line this short, shaded lane. Grab a coffee or lunch nearby and take your time; the Harwood rewards slow looking.
Millicent Rogers Museum
A few miles north of town, where the desert opens toward the mountains, the Millicent Rogers Museum sits quietly among sage and sky. Housed in an adobe home that feels both elegant and handmade, it honors the life and collections of Millicent Rogers—fashion icon, philanthropist, and early advocate for Native American arts of the Southwest. Since its founding in 1956, the museum has grown into one of the most significant cultural archives in northern New Mexico.
What You’ll See
Jewelry & Silverwork – One of the finest collections of Native American jewelry anywhere, including Rogers’s personal pieces and intricate silver and turquoise designs by Zuni, Navajo, and Pueblo artists.
Pottery & Weaving – Clay vessels from ancient to contemporary makers, including masterworks by Maria Martinez and generations of northern Pueblo potters, alongside Rio Grande and Chimayó textiles that reveal the endurance of local traditions.
Hispanic Folk Art – Hand-carved santos, painted retablos, tinwork, and household pieces that show the devotional and domestic artistry of northern New Mexico.
Rotating Exhibitions – Contemporary artists from Native, Hispanic, and mixed-heritage backgrounds continue the dialogue Rogers helped elevate—exploring identity, landscape, and belonging through modern lenses.
Why It Matters
The museum’s power lies in connection—how it places Indigenous, Hispanic, and Anglo works side by side without hierarchy. It’s not a story told in isolation, but a conversation across time.
Plan Your Visit
Location: 1504 Millicent Rogers Road, about 4 miles north of Taos Plaza
Hours: Daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (Closed Wednesdays October - March)
Admission: Adults $20; Seniors (65+) $15, Disabled $15 (includes free admission for caregiver), Ages 7-18 $15, Ages 6 and under Free, Tribal Members Free, Taos County Residents Free on Sundays.
Parking: Free, with wide open views of the mountains
Time to Allow: 1–2 hours for a full visit
Nearby
The drive north offers glimpses of Taos’s high desert light—Head West on Highway 64 for 8 miles to take in the view of The Gorge Bridge, or Head Eastward to Arroyo Seco for coffee or a bite before continuing up to the Ski Valley for mountain views.
The Kit Carson House and Museum
Just east of the Plaza, on Kit Carson Road, stands a low adobe home built around 1825 that once belonged to frontiersman Kit Carson and his wife, María Josefa Jaramillo. Carson bought the property in 1843 as a wedding gift, and the couple raised their family here for nearly twenty-five years. The house is one of Taos’s oldest continuously standing buildings and a National Historic Landmark, offering a glimpse into 19th-century life in northern New Mexico.
What You’ll See
The museum’s simple rooms have been furnished to reflect the Carsons’ daily life, from the kitchen’s earthen floors to the hand-carved furniture typical of the period. Personal items such as Carson’s sabre and Josefa’s sewing box sit alongside household tools and photographs that bring the family’s story into focus. Displays and short films provide historical context, while docents offer insight into both the Carsons’ lives and Taos during the mid-1800s.
Why It Matters
The Kit Carson House & Museum preserves not just the story of a single family, but a pivotal period in the region’s transition from Mexican to U.S. territory. Its adobe walls hold both the myth and the reality of frontier life—a reminder that Taos’s history, like its people, is complex and deeply interwoven.
Plan Your Visit
Located at 113 Kit Carson Road, a block from Taos Plaza, the museum is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Allow about an hour for your visit. Parking is limited on the street, with additional spaces available around Taos Plaza, or a few blocks north at Kit Carson Park.
Admission
Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (62+), $7 for veterans, students, and groups of five or more. Admission is free for active military members, first responders, Freemasons (with dues card), children 12 and under, and Taos County residents.
Nearby
After your visit, take a short walk toward the Plaza for coffee or a meal, or head next door to the Kit Carson Cemetery located in Kit Carson Park, where Carson and his family are buried alongside generations of Taoseños.
Imagine Children’s Museum
One block south of Taos Plaza. on Des Georges Place, Imagine Children’s Museum is a bright, hands-on space where learning and play naturally overlap. Founded by Taos native and early-childhood educator Taylor Etchemendy, it grew out of her work with INSPIRE Bilingual Early Learning Center and a Reggio Emilia–informed belief that children learn best when curiosity leads. Enter at the butterfly and you’re in a welcoming, flexible environment designed for exploration.
What You’ll See
Interactive exhibits encourage touch, movement, and tinkering; rotating “Exhibit Hall” installations keep things fresh; and dedicated studios invite painting, building, sewing, and more. The museum treats art, motion, story, and play as equal “languages” for learning—so kids can follow their own path, whether that’s clay, magnets, cardboard engineering, or quiet reading nooks.
Why It Matters
Imagine isn’t about keeping kids busy; it’s about honoring their natural intelligence. Spaces are set up to let families co-create: adults facilitate, children lead, and staff refresh materials so the environment stays responsive. It’s inclusive, bilingual, and intentionally downtown—so locals and visitors can make it part of everyday life in Taos.
Plan Your Visit
Location: 104 Des Georges Place, Taos, NM
Hours: Tuesday–Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; closed Monday
Time to Allow: At least 1 hour (most families stay longer)
Parking: There is free parking in the municipal lot next to the museum.
Admission: Admission is free for everyone, every day, in keeping with the museum’s mission to provide open access to playful learning for all Taos families and visitors.
Nearby
After exploring Imagine, families can make a short walk toward the Plaza for more kid-friendly fun. Stop at Chokola for artisan hot chocolate, enjoy ice cream at Manzanita Café, or head to Twirl, the beloved toy store with its own outdoor playground and climbing structures. Each is just a few blocks away—perfect for extending a morning of play into a full Taos adventure.
