Churches

The staircase makes two complete spirals with no center or side supports. It was constructed by a lone carpenter using hand tools and no nails. He left without seeking payment from the nuns. Thank you all for visiting and for your gracious and appreciated comments! I wish I could thank each of you personally. Have a great creative day! Please do not use my photograph without my express consent. All rights reserved. Kathleen

Santa Fe, NM

Madrid, NM

Taos, New Mexico - The shadow looks like a ghost, but it's just wet adobe. I still remember the smell of the adobe as we walked around the church taking photographs. It is an incredible structure. Construction on the church began around 1772 and was completed in 1815 by Franciscan Fathers and its patron is Saint Francis of Assisi. It is made of adobe as are many of the Spanish missions in New Mexico. It was the center of the fortified Ranchos de Taos Plaza for protection against Comanche attackers. It is located a few miles south of Taos Pueblo and has inspired among the greatest number of depictions of any building in the United States. It was the subject of several paintings by Georgia O'Keeffe, and photographs by Ansel Adams, Paul Strand and Ned Scott. Georgia O'Keeffe described it as, "one of the most beautiful buildings left in the United States by the early Spaniards." The Taos Chamber of Commerce states that the building is "one of the most photographed and painted churches in the world". It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1970. It is also designated as a World Heritage church. Thank you all for visiting and for your gracious and appreciated comments! I wish I could thank each of you personally. Have a great creative day! Please do not use my photograph without my express consent. All rights reserved. Kathleen

Taos, New Mexico Thank you all for visiting and for your gracious and appreciated comments! I wish I could thank each of you personally. Have a great creative day! Please do not use my photograph without my express consent. All rights reserved. Kathleen

Taos, NM

Taos, New Mexico - The dark area you see on the belfry is an area of wet adobe. The church had just been re-coated and had not entirely dried. Thank you all for visiting and for your gracious and appreciated comments! I wish I could thank each of you personally. Have a great creative day! Please do not use my photograph without my express consent. All rights reserved. Kathleen

Taos, NM

Thank you all for visiting and for your gracious and appreciated comments! I wish I could thank each of you personally. Have a great creative day! Please do not use my photograph without my express consent. All rights reserved. Kathleen

A fresh coat of adobe had been applied and was still drying. Fresh adobe is applied every year. Thank you all for visiting and for your gracious and appreciated comments! I wish I could thank each of you personally. Have a great creative day! Please do not use my photograph without my express consent. All rights reserved. Kathleen

Albuquerque, NM

St. Augustine, FL

St. Augustine, FL

Old Town, St. Augustine, FL.

St. Augustine, FL.

St. Augustine, FL - The city of St. Augustine was founded and established in 1565 by Don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés. He began his adventure by sailing from the port of Cádiz, Spain. On August 28 of that year his expedition first sighted land along the east coast of Florida (the area that is today Cape Canaveral). It was the feast day of Saint Augustine of Hippo. Menéndez decided to give that saint’s name to his first settlement. He continued sailing north along the coast, eventually coming to the harbor of a native tribe of the Timucuan nation. Some of Menéndez’s party landed on September 6 with Menéndez himself landing on September 8, the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Upon coming ashore, Menéndez was presented a cross to kiss by Father López de Mendoza Grajales as the hymn Te Deum Laudamus was sung. The celebration of a Mass followed immediately, and thus began the story of the establishment of the oldest permanently occupied European settlement in what is now the United States of America, and, at the same time, the beginnings of what would be the Cathedral Parish. The Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine is a historic cathedral in St. Augustine, Florida, and the seat of the Catholic Bishop of St. Augustine. It is located at Cathedral Street between Charlotte and St. George Streets. Constructed over five years (1793–1797),[3][4] it was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark on April 15, 1970. Originally established in 1565, and re-built in the 18th century, it is the oldest church in Florida. Thank you all for visiting and for your gracious and appreciated comments! I wish I could thank each of you personally. Have a great creative day! Please do not use my photograph without my express consent. All rights reserved. Kathleen

Albuquerque, Old Town, New Mexico Thank you all for visiting and for your gracious and appreciated comments! Have a great day. Kathleen WELCOME: Faves, comments, invites, notes, tags, all are very appreciated! Thank you!! Not welcome and deleted: ANY KIND OF SELF-PROMOTION.

Albuquerque, NM