U. S. Mission Trail / The Mission Trail Today - The Spanish Missions in Louisiana
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Select photographs of my many visits to The Missions of the United States South and Southwest built by Spain and Mexico between 1565 and 1823.
All photographs taken by Kenneth A. Larson. All rights reserved. © 2008 - 2013.

Explanation.

Louisiana Missions Main Page

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First Louisiana Mission
Main U. S. Page
Main Texas Page
Mission San Miguel de Linares de los Adaes
Missions
Mission San Miguel de Cuellar
Pueblo of Los Adaes
Pueblo - - - - - Presidio
Presidio Nuestra Señora Pilar de Los Adaes
The Spanish established about 50 missions in Texas. The sites of some of these missions are now in Louisiana because of a shifting border. The Spanish claimed the Red River as the international border with New France, France claimed the Sabine River (further west) as the border. Today, the Sabine River divides the states of Texas and Lousiana and the once Texas Missions, Presidios, and Pueblos established between these two rivers are now in Lousiana.

My research suggests only two Spanish Missins in Louisiana, both in what was then Texas. Because of hostilities with neighboring French settlement and the remote locations, Spain's holding of this region was sporatic. Mission San Miguel de Linares de los Adaes was founded in 1717. A short distnace away the Pueblo of Los Adaes and Presidio Nuestra Señora Pilar de Los Adaes were founded in 1721. Los Adaes was for some time the capitol of the Provence of Texas. Later Mission San Miguel de Linares de los Adaes was closed but later replaced with Mission San Miguel de Cuellar.

Louisiana is still under study. We did visit one Louisiana Presidio in January 2009.

Sources:

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