[1] For seventy-five years, serving as a public library, museum, auditorium, classrooms and meeting rooms, the Harwood was at the heart of the social and artistic life of Taos, New Mexico.

The first home purchased by the Harwoods was previously owned by Smith H. Simpson, who served as a clerk for Kit Carson during the military campaign against the Ute Indians.

With funds from the Economic Development Administration and under the leadership of Jim Levy, the complex was renovated between 1978 and 1982, which modernized the electrical, heating and plumbing systems.

The services of the center were expanded during those years, to include a children's library, extensive outreach program, and an oral history project.

[4] As of 1998, the building, which no longer housed the public library, was renamed the Harwood Museum of Art[3] and is still owned by the University of New Mexico.