The San José de Gracia Church in Las Trampas is one of the most-original and best-preserved examples of Spanish Colonial architecture in New Mexico. When Las Trampas was founded in the 1700s, the nearest church was ten miles away at Picuris. By around 1760, the colonists began constructing the San José de Gracia Church. Built by the townspeople themselves, the church is a single nave plan, about 100 feet long, with walls of thick, plastered adobe. Las Trampas is one of several villages on the High Road (NM 76) between Santa Fe and Taos. First settled by 12 Spanish families in 1751, the village of Las Trampas was originally built surrounded by a defensive wall. The single story buildings were consolidated around a central plaza. The layout provided defense during inevitable raids. The community has flourished for centuries, developing and retaining a unique culture. (at Trampas, New Mexico)
