U. S. Mission Trail / The Mission Trail Today - The Spanish Missions in Texas
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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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The Spanish established about 50 missions in Texas, some of which, because of shifting borders, are now in Mexico and Louisiana. The most famous Mission in Texas isn't recognized by most of the general public as being a mission. San Antonio de Valero is better known as the Alamo where Davy Crockett and over 100 defenders lost their lives. The Texas Mission story is complex and difficult to follow as missions moved, closed, changed their names, were secularized, were attacked, abandoned, and a few have been restored. Some have multiple founding dates listed at various sources. In 2008 & 9 we made two trips to central and east Texas and Louisiana visiting 15 Mission sites. In 2024, I traveled to Texas in a failed attempt to observe the eclipse. On this trip, I located nearly 20 more sites, mostly only roadside markers, from El Paso to San Antonio. There are more Missions for which I have not found the sites and a few for which I have information that remain to be visited. I need to plan another trip.

San Francisco de los Tejas was the first Mission in Texas, established in 1690. Within months a second Mission, Santisimo Nombre de Maria was established a short distance away. Both had been abandoned by 1693. Mission San Miguel de Linares de los Adaes was the fifth Mission founded in East Texas near the town of Los Adaes which served as the capitol of the Provence of Texas from 1721 until about 1779. Then to confuse the issue, several Missions in West Texas predate San Francisco de los Tejas. The Missions of El Paso relocated there after leaving New Mexico following the pueblo revolt.

A marker for Mission San Francisco de los Julimes says that it was one of nine in the Big Bend area, I could find nothing for the other eight. One marker that I was hoping to see had been removed because I was told "they" decided it was in the wrong place.

Missions of East Texas:
The Franciscans established six Missions along the San Antonio River in the early 1700s - five flourished. (label copy at Mission Espada). In 2024, I found a marker for the sixth Mission, San Francisco Xavier de Nájera, next to a golf course.


Camino Real (needs work)

Missions

  1. Socorro Mission1680 - Socorro (El Paso), Texas
  2. Ysleta Mission, 1682 - El Paso, Texas
  3. San Francisco de los Julimes, 1683-1684 - Presidio County, Texas
  4. San Clemente Mission. 1684 - Runnels County
  5. Mission San Francisco de los Tejas, 1690 (needs work) - East Texas
  6. Mission Santissimo Nombre de Maria, 1690 (needs work) - Houston County East Texas
  7. Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purisima Concepcion, (needs work) 1716 - San Antonio
  8. Mission Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de los Nacogdoches, 1716 (needs work) - Nacogdoches, East Texas
  9. Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purisima Concepcion, 1716 (needs work) - East Texas, Alto, Texas
  10. Mission Nuestro Padre San Francisco de los Tejas, 1716 (needs work) - East Texas
  11. Mission San Francisco de los Neches, 1716 (or 21) (needs work) - East Texas
  12. Mission San Jose de los Nasonis, 1716 (needs work) - East Texas
  13. Mission San Miguel de Cuellar de los Adaes, 1716 and 1721 - Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana (needs work)
  14. Mission San Miguel de Linares de los Adaes, 1716-1717 - Near Robeline, Lousiana
  15. Mission San Miguel de Linares de los Adeas, 1717 (needs work) - Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana
  16. Mission Nuestra Señora de los Dolores,1716 & 1721 (needs work) - San Augustine East Texas
  17. Mission Espiritu Santo de Zuñiga (third location), 1749 (needs work) - Goliad
  18. Mission Nuestra Senora del Rosario, (needs work) 1754 - Goliad
  19. Mission San Antonio de Velero, 1718 (needs work) - San Antonio
  20. Mission San Jose, 1720 (needs work) - San Antonio
  21. Mission San Francisco Xavier de Nájera, 1722 - San Antonio
  22. Three Missions temporary site in Austin (Missions San Francisco de la Espada, Mission Nuestra Senora de la Purisima Concepcion, and Mission San Juan Capistrano) (needs work) 1730-1731 - Austin, Texas
  23. Mission San Juan, 1731(needs work) - San Antonio
  24. Mission San Francisco de la Espada, 1731 (needs work) - San Antonio (needs work)
  25. Mission San Francisco Xavier de los Dolores, 1746 - Milam County, Texas
  26. Mission Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (first location), 1749 - Milam County, Texas
  27. Mission Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (second location), 1755, San Marcos River
  28. Mission Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, 1756 - New Braunfels, Texas
  29. Mission Santa Cruz de San Saba, 1757 - Menard, Texas
  30. Mission San Lorenzo de la Santa Cruz, 1762 - Camp Wood, Texas
  31. Mission Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (third location), 1762 - Uvalde County
  32. San Elizario Mission (Presidio Chapel), 1789 - San Elizario (El Paso), TX
  33. Mission Nuestra Señora del Refugio, 1791(needs work) - Refugio

Presidios

  1. Presidio Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de los Tejas, 1721 - East Texas
  2. Presidio Nuestra Señora Pilar de Los Adaes, 1721 (needs work) - Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana
  3. Presidio Bahia (needs work) 1749 - Goliad
  4. Presidio de San Saba, 1757 - Menard, Texas

Puebos

  1. Los Adaes, 1721 (needs work) - Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana

Sources:

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This page last updated: Thursday, 20-Nov-2025 13:29:13 PST
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