along the Santa Fe Trail after it opened up in 1821. Severino Martinez built a flourishing mercantile business trading goods from Northern New Mexico, allowing him to send his son Antonio José Martínez to study for the priesthood in Durango, Mexico. Antonio José was a spiritual leader in Taos from 1826 to 1867. Severino lived at the hacienda until his death in 1827. In his will, Severino left his "vast" fortune, most of which was made through trade through Chihuahua, Mexico, to his six children, a nephew and 2 emancipated female servants. One of the emancipated women was his half-sister by his father. The Martinez family held on to the property when Mexico took control of New Mexico from Spain, and again when it became a United States territory and state. It was sold in 1931 outside of the family and over the years fell into disrepair. It was purchased and reconstruction began in 1961 by Jerome Milord and his family. In 1969 or 1972 it was sold to the Kit Carson Memorial Foundation who restored the property. The hacienda was fully restored by 1982 to its state in 1820. Museum Now owned by the Taos Historic Museums,<ref>"Taos Historic Museums to honor four with awards". The Taos News". June 9, 2013. Retrieved July 27, 2014.</ref> it is a living museum honoring the contributions of the early Hispanic settlers in the Taos Valley. It is particularly focused on life during the 1820s under Spanish colonial rule. For instance, the weaving exhibits display wool died with vegetable based tints. And the hacienda's interior walls are white washed with tierra blanca'', which is a mixture of micaceous clay and wheat paste. It is one of the few remaining Spanish colonial haciendas that is open to the public throughout the year in the United States. It hosts the annual Taos Trade Fair in late September to reenact Spanish colonial life and celebrate the trade among mountain men, Native Americans and Spanish settlers. Demonstrations are performed of blacksmiths, wood carvers and weavers. In addition to a working weaving room, there is also a blacksmith shop within the museum. See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Taos County, New Mexico Notes References Further reading External links Taos Historic Museums - official site Buildings and structures in Taos, New Mexico Colonial Mexico Forts in New Mexico Historic house museums in New Mexico History of Taos,