Sometimes we just like to wander around the towns we visit to get a feel for the place. City parks are always fun to visit. Today was a lazy day, but we didn’t want to just hang around the motor coach. So, we hopped in the car and drove the short distance into Taos to visit the Kit Carson Park.
It is a lovely green space within walking distance about a 1½ blocks from Taos Plaza. The 25-acre park has a walking/jogging trail, multi-purpose tennis and basketball courts, three baseball fields, a playground, and open fields for soccer, frisbee, or relaxing. We were there for the relaxing part...
As we were walking through the park, we came upon the Kit Carson Cemetery. We did not realize he was buried here. We plan to visit nearby Kit Carson House and Museum (where he and his family lived from 1843-67) but have not gotten there yet. Briefly, he was an American frontiersman (trapper, wilderness guide, Indian agent and US Army officer) who became famous in his own lifetime (1809-1868) through sensational biographical stories and news articles.
The Kit Carson Cemetery is 150+ years old and is his final resting place along with members of his family. Below is Carson’s grave and that of his 3rdwife (Josepha) who died in childbirth (with their 8thchild) a few months before Kit died of an aortic aneurysm.
His son, Kit Carson II (1868-1929), and his wife Lupe (1905-1948), are buried next to Carson’s grave. The grave of their daughter, Nettie (1905-1948) is next to Kit II’s grave. Their son, Allen Carson, served in both WWI and WWII.
This memorial is for the officers, soldiers, and local civilians killed (or who died of wounds) serving in the First US Dragoons against Mexicans and Indians near Taos in 1847 and 1854. Buried here, their names are listed on the plaque.
Other notable citizens of Taos are also interred here. Following are a few of them. Hopefully, this is not morbid for you, but I have always found cemeteries to contain a wealth of historical significance.
We recognized the name on this grave. He built the John Dunn bridge across the Rio Grande in the early 1900s.
Peter Joseph De Tevis (1814-1862) opened a trading post in Taos in 1840. A close friend of Carson, he was involved in overcoming the Taos Rebellion of 1847. The second grave is of Mabel Dodge Luhan (1879-1962), a wealthy, socialite and patron of the arts who came to Taos in 1916. She was instrumental in establishing Taos as an art community internationally.
We meandered through the park enjoying the lovely afternoon. Our sweet doggie, Sadie, always loves to lay down in the grass and keep a sharp eye out for people and other dogs in the area.
Now that I have learned more about Kit Carson, I am really looking forward to visiting his home here in Taos.
For information about events held at the park, go to www.taos.org/events/taos-music-in-the-park/.
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