TAOS — In the high desert of New Mexico, the voices of Puebloan tour guides harmonize with the Rio Pueblo de Taos in confluence with the crystal clear Sangre de Cristo snowmelt.

Weaving tales of survival and tradition, the guides talk in hushed reference to Taos Pueblo. Its ancient adobe walls, sun-drenched and enduring, have sheltered the Tiwa-speaking people for over a thousand years, marking it as one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in America.

The structures stand on the earth they are built from and embody the resilience and creativity of the Taos inhabitants. Stacked and blocky, ladders to the rooflines and upper floors line the high wall. With brightly painted doors and simple windows that do not betray the dark, a few doors on the lower levels are open and welcome guests. Residents sell flatbread roasted and topped with honey from small kitchens, and a silversmith fires a smelter to start his day.

Even in the face of the Spanish conquistadors' arrival in the late 1500s, the Taos community stood firm, fiercely protecting its cultural roots. Through times of resistance, including the pivotal 1847 insurgency against American forces, Taos Pueblo remained a steadfast guardian of its heritage.

Today is World Heritage Day. In 1992, Taos Pueblo's cultural and architectural significance was celebrated and designated as one of the country's 25 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.