Visiting Kit Carson's Home and Museum, 7/31/2019

Kit Carson, the 6^thof 10 children, was born in KY in 1809. He left home at 16 to become a trapper and scout. His travels extended to California, Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico and more, where he acquired first-hand knowledge of many Native American tribes. Carson became a legend in his own lifetime through his various careers as a frontiersman, trapper, scout, guide, transcontinental courier, US Brigadier General, Indian Agent, husband and father. 

In 1843 he settled in Taos, NM, where he met and married his young third wife, Maria Josefa Jaramillo (daughter of a prominent and wealthy Hispanic family). His first wife, Singing Grass, was Arapaho and died giving birth to their second daughter. His second marriage to a Cheyenne woman was short-lived as she divorced him (according to the customs of her tribe) after a few months.

The Kit Carson Home and Museum is a traditional adobe dwelling (built in 1825) that Carson purchased for his wife, Josefa, as a wedding gift in 1843. It is in the middle of Taos and only 1½ blocks from Taos Plaza. 

Entry to the museum is through the courtyard in the rear. 

The admission fee ($8/senior, $10/adult) is paid in the gift shop. There are many books that were written about Kit Carson available for purchase along with art work, textiles, and other gift items. 

A video of Carson’s life is shown in a room with chairs and various items on display like this amazing bison head and small sewing machine that Josepha would have used. 

The Carsons lived in three of the four rooms of the house along with 7 of their 9 children for 25 years. The kitchen has a unique fireplace used for cooking (and heating the home). Period artifacts and an infant trundle bed (used by Kit’s parents for him and their other children) are on display in the room.

The fourth room was used as Carson’s office as he was an Indian Agent while in Taos. His original desk, rifles, and other personal items are on display.

The courtyard of the Carson’s home is where family and friends gathered. The ramada provided shade and vegetables or meats could be dried on the roof. An oven used for baking (called a horno) was near the kitchen. Originally there was a water well as well in the courtyard. 

The family moved to Colorado in 1867. A year later, Josepha (age 40) died of complications of childbirth. A month later, Carson (age 59) also died suddenly of an aneurysm. They are both buried at the nearby cemetery in Kit Carson Park. 

The Romero House, built in 1830, is where the Carsons’ neighbors lived. The property has been acquired and is in the process of being restored. It opens into the same open courtyard.

It was very interesting to see this home of the famous Kit Carson. We learned that many thought he was a huge bear of man by the exaggerated and incredible stories published in dime novels of the time, but in reality he was 5’ 5” with “piercing blue eyes,” who was a very skilled scout and hunter. 

Some historians now contend that he had some less-than-heroic times in his life and was actually a scoundrel of a man. None of that was mentioned at the museum. Regardless, he is an interesting character for those of us who enjoy learning more about the Old West. 

For additional information, go to www.kitcarsonmuseum.org.