U. S. Mission Trail / The Mission Trail Today - The Spanish Missions in New Mexico
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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.

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New Mexico has some beautiful examples of Spanish architecture, including Missions. Several Texas Missions moved to that state from New Mexico. The Missions of New Mexico predate those of California. There were about 30 Missions in New Mexico, many survive as churches. Most were along or near the Rio Gradnd Valley.

In 2023, I drove through New Mexico on my return from Texas, where I saw many Mission related sites. I visited seven Mission related sites in New Mexico and am almost ready to start working on those photos. I may visit New Mexico later this year and hope to visit a few more Mission sites north and west of Santa Fe.
In order of founding:
Name, Founding Date, Founder, Location, Still Exists


18 + Missions, 42+

.
  1. Mission Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Porciúncula de los Pecos, 1598. (Pecos National Historical Park, 26 miles northeast of Santa Fe, I-25) 1617-1620; Mission Nuestra Señora de Porclúncula
  2. Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción' Zia Pueblo, New Mexico, from Santa Fe, southwest toward Albuquerque on I-25 to US 550 northwest. 26 minutes from I-25. Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Zia. 1598.
  3. Mission Juan Bautista de los Caballeros. 1598. near the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo in Northern New Mexico, specifically at the confluence of the Rio Grande and Rio Chama. 40 minutes north of Santa Fe on US 84.
  4. San Gabriel del Yunque-Ouinge and San Miguel. 1599. San Gabriel del Yunque-Ouinge was the first Spanish capital of New Mexico (1598 - 1610), located near modern-day Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico. 25 miles north of Santa Fe along State Road 74.
  5. San José de los Jémez Mission and Giusewa Pueblo Site, 1600. 1621. a 7-acre National Historic Landmark in Jemez Springs, New Mexico, taking I-25 South toward Bernalillo and then NM-550 North to NM-4 West. , 1 hour, 15 min from Santa Fe.
  6. San Felipe Mission, built on the site of an earlier church (1706). 1605. Present church completed in 1736 and one of the least altered. San Felipe de Neri, 1793 (or 1706) in Albuquerque,(visited).
  7. Mission Santo Domingo, original church destroyed by flood of Rio Grande. 1607. note, located for trip this far
  8. Nuestra Señora de Dolores y de San Antonio de Sandia. 1610.
  9. Mission Nuestra Señora de los Remedios de Galisteo. 1610.
  10. Mission San Marcos. 1610.
  11. San Miguel Mission Chapel, oldest still active church in U.S., 1610, rebuilt 1710 . Built early 17th century by Tlaxcalan Indians of Mexico. Santa Fe. San Miguel Mission, acive 1915-1928, south wall from 1598. Mission San Miguel, , 1610, repaired in 1710 after Pueblo Revolt, San Miguel Mission Chapel is believed to be the oldest church still in use in the U.S. (visited)
  12. Mission San Miguel de Socorro, c1627, 1615-1626, 74 miles south of Albuquerque, originally Mission La Purisima Socorro, 1680-1682 by Piri, Tano, and Jemez people fleeing the 1680 Pueblo Revolt. (visited).
  13. Mission San Agustin de Islata, 1612. 1613 (visited)
  14. Mission San Francisco de Nambe. 1310.
  15. San Jose Mission in Luis Lopez (Socorro County), 2335 NM-1, Cam Luis Lopez, Socorro, NM 87801 Phone: (575) 835-2891
    The two priests, with the help of the Indians, built that same year a modest little church which they replaced with a larger building between the years 1615 and 1626, and which is the present church building with its massive walls and huge carved vigas and supporting corbel-arches.
  16. San Acacia, NM mission!
  17. San Geronimo de Taos, San Jerónimo de Taos, 1617.
  18. San Ildefonso Pueblo, San Ildefonso Mission. 1617. , originally built in 1711, later destroyed, Replacement is a facsimile of the original.
  19. San Lorenzo de Picur&icute;s, c1620. Mission period and best San Lorenzo: Location: 856M634H+WC Google Maps; Address: Polvadera, New Mexico 87828;
  20. San Lorenzo established at Paso del Norte by Fray Francisco Ayeta, arriving October 9, 1680, established afrer 1680, moved to El Paso.
  21. San Gregorio de Abo, 1622. 1629, established in 1640 byFray Francisco Acevedo. (part of Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monuments.) (visited)
  22. Mission San Esteban del Ray de Acoma. 1623. , (need official tour), 1629, 60 miles west of Albuquerque on I-40.
  23. San Esteban del Rey de Acoma Mission Church. 1623. , founded 1629, completed 1641, Pueblo of Acoma, 25 miles southwest of Laguna, (Sky City), San Esteban del Rey, 1626, Church has been in continuous use since 1641 except the Pueblo Revolt in 1680-1692.
  24. Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de Quarai,. 1626. overseen by Fray Juan Gutierrez de la Chica. (visited)
  25. Mission Nuestra Senora de Perpetuo Socorro. 1626.
  26. San Antonio de Padua de Senecú. 1626;
  27. Santa Clara Mission Church. 1626.
  28. Mission Nuestra Señ:ora de Purisima Concepción de Quarai, 1626. 1627.1627-1632
    Nuestra Señora de la Purisima Concepció Quaral (part of Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monuments.)
  29. San Luis Obispo de Sevillete. 1627.
  30. San Jose (Giusewa) de Jemez Mission. built 1627, mission church is in ruins.
  31. Mission La Purisima Concepci&oacote;n at Haikuh. 1628.
  32. Mission Nuestra Señ:ora de Guadalupe, Our Lady of Guadalpe,1629. 1631,1629, Zuni. (visited)
  33. Gran Quivira ( Mission San Buenaventura de Humanas), 1629. 1626 (part of Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monuments.)(visited)
  34. San Isidro and San Buenaventura de Humanas), Gran Quivira (part of Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monuments.)
  35. San Diego de Tesuque. 1620.
  36. San Buenaventura de Cochiti, completed. 1630. 1628,present day church remodeled 1960s.
  37. San José, Mission at Leguna Pueblo, end of 17th century, 1699, (east and a little north of Grants, 45 or 78 miles west of Albuquerque on I-40) one of most interesting, last in early Mission period, Mission San José de Laguna, 1700. 1699, Laguna Pueblo, west central N. M.
  38. Mission Santa Ana, 1693. 1750, Santa Ana Pueblo Mission, completed 1750.
  39. Mission San Francisco de Asis, in Ranchos de Taos, between 1815. 1772 and 1816.
  40. La Sagrada Familia Mission. early 1830s. in Lemitar (Socorro County) near Interstate 25 a little north of Socorro.
  41. San Antonio Mission in Alamillo. 1928. (Socorro County).

  43. Saint Mary Magdalene Mission in Magdalene (204 Elm St in Magdalena, New Mexico (87825), ; Socorro County, near US 60, east of state 169)
  44. Saint John the Baptist in Kelly (Socorro County) Address: Kelly Rd, Magdalena, NM 87825. Ghost town except church.
  45. Mission Santo Domingo. The original chuch was destroyed by flood of Rio Grande, present church was rebuilt in 1895. Location: Santo Domingo Pueblo (now Kewa Pueblo), New Mexico.
  46. Santuario de Guadalupe, nation's oldest shrine dedicated to our Lady of Guadalupe (visited).
  47. El Santuario de Chimayo. site of pilgrimage by foot. El Address: 15 Santuario Dr, Chimayo, NM 87522; Opened: 1816Santuario de Chimayo. site of pilgrimage by foot.


Sources:

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This page last updated: Saturday, 07-Feb-2026 21:15:46 PST
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