Above map of the Spanish Territories before the war of Independence.
Above– a very old painting of the Hacienda de Los Martinez one of the few remaining Spanish Colonial Great houses in the U.S. southwest. Built in 1804 by the Martinez family and situated two miles west of the Taos . It was near the terminus of the El Camino Real-The Spanish Trail and apart from being a trader Severino Martinez was also Mayor of Taos.
Photo above courtesy Carole Henson via Wikipedia
Above– The fortress like construction with no external windows. Comanche raids were a frequent event.
Above– The iconic red peppers of New Mexico drying in the September Sun.
Below-Living was Spartan when everything had to be made by hand. This hacienda had no grand furniture inported from Europe or the U.S. Furniture was at a premium on the frontier. All the timber had to be cut in the far off Sangre de Christo mountains hauled back and then cut into rough boards then smoothed with an adze into useable boards some over 16 inches across.
Below-the kitchen showing a long bench on which hot coals from the fireplace were placed to cook.
The bunk above channels the smoke into the flue and gave a warm place to sleep.
Below-After The War of Independence from Spain the family started trading with the Americans bringing products in and out along the Santa Fe trail. Some of which were Hudson Bay blankets.
Below– Some of the wood carvings from that period.
Below some of the more macabre statuary.
For more see here.