Taos MainStreet aims to promote downtown Taos as a place for all

June 3rd, 2026

In recent years, many cities and towns throughout the U.S. have pursued revitalization strategies to get people and businesses back into their respective central downtown districts. For most of these places, downtowns represent the oldest parts of established municipalities; nearly all have gone through several phases in their histories — with their use ebbing and flowing with technological advances and other societal stresses.

Take for example, communities of all sizes who were lucky enough to have Route 66 pass through their towns 100 years ago. People along the new transcontinental roadway experienced a novel transformation and lived through a decades-long zenith of reliable commerce and jobs. This spurred rapid growth in their regions that originated in downtown business corridors; that growth extended to surrounding neighborhoods and farmlands as a result of constant personal automobile and commercial traffic flowing east and west through their hometowns. And while the bonanza was happening, these main streets showcased their respective windfalls on their proverbial sleeves with handsome storefronts and modern trappings that attracted travelers and locals alike.

The heyday came to an end with the development and construction of the interstate highway system some 30 years later. The inevitable decommissioning of the historic road left a good number of towns reeling due to the intentional bypassing of tight business districts. With the lack of steady outside customers, those same downtowns soon began to see a rapid decline, and locals also stopped coming, too.

For some of these places, the cause of the decline was well known, and would require a thoughtful and determined response to bring their downtowns back. In other instances, communities simply needed a slight boost to revitalize their central districts. In any case, downtowns have long been held as a vital resource and deserving of efforts to preserve their charm and function. This notion gets an upraised endorsement right here in our historic town by Taos MainStreet and its ongoing efforts to reinvigorate and promote downtown Taos.

In its seven years of existence, Taos MainStreet has worked to transform Taos’ historic downtown district through strategic investment, public and private partnerships, and a long-term vision which includes a push to rekindle the plaza as an attractive gathering place. Founded in 2019 as part of the New Mexico MainStreet Accelerator program, Taos MainStreet began with a simple but ambitious goal: strengthen the economic and cultural vitality of the Plaza District while preserving the historic character that defines Taos.

For starters, a map was established identifying the downtown area Taos MainStreet would represent and work within. This included the main corridor of Paseo del Pueblo Sur and Norte and the five historic neighborhoods — Taos County Plaza, Ledoux Street, Civic Plaza Drive, Kit Carson Road and Bent Street — which flank the U.S. 64 and N.M. 68 intersection in the heart of downtown. Not unlike many other communities, Taos’ MainStreet district came with a diverse set of businesses, service providers, government agencies, infrastructure and the usual machinations of an urban center.

A major difference between Taos and other townships is the beauty and tradition found in our unique layout that is best explored via a stroll or bike ride in any season. Our adobe buildings, augmented with plants and trees in the spring and summer, blanketed by fresh snowfall in the winter and bathed in colorful sunlight any day of the year, can turn a casual visit into an extraordinary outing that can stir a sense of pride and ownership.

This is a staple of Taos MainStreet. Whether it’s creating fresh memories for our young children, or evoking a renewed sense of tenure for our aging-in-place residents, Taos MainStreet strives to serve all interests in the promotion of the heart of our community.

In the coming months, many more initiatives will be introduced to inspire regular, quality visits and enable locals to reclaim downtown. So too will Taos MainStreet remind our readers that Taos County Plaza is for everyone. So too will MainStreet Beat remind readers that Taos County Plaza — and downtown Taos — is a place for everyone.

Arcenio J. Trujillo is community engagement coordinator of Taos MainStreet, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the economic vitality and historic preservation of downtown Taos. Contact Trujillo at community@taosmainstreet.org. Learn more at taosmainstreet.org.