Mabel Dodge Luhan and her Legendary Home in Taos
She was a woman of profound contradictions. She was generous. She was petty, domineering and endearing. She was Mabel Gansen Evans Dodge Sterne Luhan, salon hostess, art patroness, writer and self-appointed savior of humanity.
Today as you approach the house of Mabel Dodge Luhan, it’s easy to see why some of the greatest minds of the 20th century were inspired here. Situated at the end of a quiet road not far from the center of town, the house appears much as it did in the days when Mabel admired her views of the sacred Taos Mountain from the third-story solarium. One can only imagine the tantalizing conversations that must have taken place within these walls. After all, Georgia O’Keeffe stayed here. So did D.H. Lawrence, Ansel Adams, Martha Graham and Carl Jung, among many other notables. As a historic inn and conference center which offers retreat-style meetings and artistic, literary, and personal growth workshops, the Mabel Dodge Luhan House continues to build on its 80-year history of personal, intellectual and artistic ferment.
As a guest of the house expect to enjoy warm adobe charm, early century elegance, historic relevance, herringbone vigas, traditional arched doorways, kiva fireplaces, and carved pillars. A welcoming hearth and relaxed ambiance. Panoramic view. Quiet patios and a tree-lined acequia.
Courtesy of the Mabel Dodge Luhan Historic Inn - which Dennis Hopper purchased and lived in during Easy Rider days.... but that's a different story.
She was a woman of profound contradictions. She was generous. She was petty, domineering and endearing. She was Mabel Gansen Evans Dodge Sterne Luhan, salon hostess, art patroness, writer and self-appointed savior of humanity.
Today as you approach the house of Mabel Dodge Luhan, it’s easy to see why some of the greatest minds of the 20th century were inspired here. Situated at the end of a quiet road not far from the center of town, the house appears much as it did in the days when Mabel admired her views of the sacred Taos Mountain from the third-story solarium. One can only imagine the tantalizing conversations that must have taken place within these walls. After all, Georgia O’Keeffe stayed here. So did D.H. Lawrence, Ansel Adams, Martha Graham and Carl Jung, among many other notables. As a historic inn and conference center which offers retreat-style meetings and artistic, literary, and personal growth workshops, the Mabel Dodge Luhan House continues to build on its 80-year history of personal, intellectual and artistic ferment.
As a guest of the house expect to enjoy warm adobe charm, early century elegance, historic relevance, herringbone vigas, traditional arched doorways, kiva fireplaces, and carved pillars. A welcoming hearth and relaxed ambiance. Panoramic view. Quiet patios and a tree-lined acequia.
Courtesy of the Mabel Dodge Luhan Historic Inn - which Dennis Hopper purchased and lived in during Easy Rider days.... but that's a different story.
Taos, New Mexico
Located in the "Land of Enchantment," Taos has a long history that predates the Pilgrims' arrival at Plymouth Rock. Anasazi Indians first inhabited the Taos Valley in 1,000 A.D., and the Taos Pueblo (both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Historic Landmark) has been continuously inhabited for than 1,000 years. Spanish conquistadors explored Taos in 1540, and by 1615 many Spanish families had settled in the region. Taos later became a crossroads for French and American trappers, and by the early 1800's it was a bustling headquarters for mountain men, including the legendary Kit Carson. When artists Bert Phillips and Ernest Blumenschein passed through in 1898, a broken wagon wheel delayed them and ultimately resulted in another wave of newcomers who established an art colony that thrives to this day. In 1917, New York socialite Mabel Dodge became enthralled with Taos, and during the next four decades she invited many highly creative and influential personalities. Taos continues to attract adventurous, spirited individuals.
Courtesy of Lyn Bleiler-Strong, author of Taos, Images of America, Arcadia Publishing.
Located in the "Land of Enchantment," Taos has a long history that predates the Pilgrims' arrival at Plymouth Rock. Anasazi Indians first inhabited the Taos Valley in 1,000 A.D., and the Taos Pueblo (both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Historic Landmark) has been continuously inhabited for than 1,000 years. Spanish conquistadors explored Taos in 1540, and by 1615 many Spanish families had settled in the region. Taos later became a crossroads for French and American trappers, and by the early 1800's it was a bustling headquarters for mountain men, including the legendary Kit Carson. When artists Bert Phillips and Ernest Blumenschein passed through in 1898, a broken wagon wheel delayed them and ultimately resulted in another wave of newcomers who established an art colony that thrives to this day. In 1917, New York socialite Mabel Dodge became enthralled with Taos, and during the next four decades she invited many highly creative and influential personalities. Taos continues to attract adventurous, spirited individuals.
Courtesy of Lyn Bleiler-Strong, author of Taos, Images of America, Arcadia Publishing.