Built 1861 (1861) NMSRCP # 362 Opened 1861 Added to NRHP 22 December 1976 | NRHP Reference # 76001200 Designated NMSRCP February 28, 1975 Area 3,200 m² | |
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Location 238 Ledoux St.,
Taos, New Mexico Architectural styles Mission Revival architecture, Pueblo Revival architecture Similar Kit Carson House, Harwood Museum of Art, Nicholai Fechin House, American Museum of Western, Nedra Matteucci Galleries | ||
Harwood Foundation is a non-profit organization in Taos, New Mexico that was listed as a National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
History
Harwood Foundation was founded in 1923 by Elizabeth Harwood, widow of Burritt Harwood, and members of the Taos business and artist community. Her partners included artist Bert Geer Phillips, physician Thomas "Doc" Martin, artist Victor Higgins, B.G. Randall and William M. Fayne. The foundation's vision was to have a library, cultural center and art center in a complex of buildings, called El Pueblito purchased by Burritt and Elizabeth Harwood between 1916 and 1924.
The El Pueblito buildings were made of adobe, inspired by the Taos Pueblo architecture. The first home purchased by the Harwoods was previously owned by Smith H. Simpson, who served as a clerk for Kit Carson during the military campaign against the Ute Indians. Simpson purchased the home in 1861 and was available for sale to the Harwoods in 1916 upon Simpson's death.
The University of New Mexico was a partner of the foundation from 1929 until 1937, and ownership was then transferred to the University. Elizabeth Harwood resided within the complex until her death in 1938. The building became the Harwood Museum of Art in 1998 when the library for the town was moved to a separate location.