Spanish missions in New Mexico

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Beginning in 1493, the Kingdom of Spain maintained a number of missions throughout Nueva España (New Spain, consisting of Mexico and portions of what today are the Southwestern United States) in order to facilitate colonization of these lands.

[edit] History

The Spanish Missions in New Mexico comprise a series of religious outposts established primarily by Spanish Catholic Franciscans, to spread the Christian doctrine among the local Native Americans, but with the added benefit of giving Spain a toehold in the frontier land. The missions introduced European livestock, fruits, vegetables, and industry into the Southwest region. Since 1493, the Kingdom of Spain had maintained a number of missions throughout Nueva España (New Spain, consisting of Mexico and portions of what today are the Southwestern United States) in order to facilitate colonization of these lands.

In this context, Fray Marcos de Niza, a Franciscan, first saw the area now known as New Mexico in 1539. All the early expeditions into this "New Kingdom of St. Francis", included Franciscan missionaries. Many of them were killed by the Native Americans, once the Spanish soldiers returned to Mexico.

The first permanent settlement was Mission San Gabriel, founded in 1598 by Juan de Oñate at a location near what is now known as the San Juan Pueblo. It was the capital of New Mexico until 1610, when Santa Fe, New Mexico became the capital.

In 1680, the Pueblo Revolt forced the Spanish settlers out of New Mexico. Many of the missions were destroyed. The Spaniards retreated to the area of present-day El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juárez Mexico. Twelve years later, in 1692, the Spanish reconquered New Mexico.

[edit] Missions

Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Zia
Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Porciúncula de los Pecos
Nuestra Señora de Purísima Concepción de Quarai founded in 17th century, ruins are part of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
San Agustín de la Isleta Mission - Built in 1612.
San Buenaventura de Cochiti - Completed in 1628, renovated in the 1960's.
San Esteban del Rey de Acoma - Established 1629 and completed in 1641, in continuous use.
San Felipe Mission - Built on the site of a previous church (1706)
San Gregorio de Abó Mission - Established in 1640 by Fray Francisco Acevedo
San Ildefonso Mission - The original mission church was built in 1711, but was later destroyed. ...
San Isidro and San Buenaventura de Humanas (Gran Quivira) - the ruins are part of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
San José (Giusewa) de Jémez Mission - Established in 1627, now in ruins.
By 1659 Piro Indians had begun settling in the area of Paso del Norte. The mission Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe was established by Fray García for them. This mission became the southern most of the New Mexico chain of missions along the Camino Real from Mexico City to Santa Fe. The original structure forms a side chapel for the Cathedral of Juarez. The Piro settlement formed the core nucleus of the original Ciudad del El Pso del Norte, which later became La Ciudad de Benito Juárez and is in the present day state of Chihuahua, Mexico.
La Misión de San Lorenzo was established at Paso del Norte by Fray Francisco Ayeta. Arriving here on October 9, 1680, Governor Antonio de Otermín established this site as his headquarters after fleeing the Pueblo revolt. Suma Indians occupied the area with their numbers falling from 155 in 1750 to 58 in 1760. Eventually incorporated into the town of Ascarate the area is now part of El Paso, TX.
La Misión de San Antonio de Senecu was settled and built by the Piro and Tampiro people who moved south after the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. The Pueblo is only commemorated today by a stone monument on Alameda Street about 1½ miles West of Ysleta Mission.
La Misión de Corpus Christi de San Antonio de la Ysleta del Sur [1]. -- built between 1680 and 1682 by Tigua speaking and Spanish refugees of the Pueblo Revolt
La Misión de La Purísima, Socorro, built between 1680 and 1682 by the Piro, Tano and Jemez peoples who accompanied or were forced to accompany the Spaniards fleeing the 1680 Pueblo Revolt.
San José de Laguna - built in 1699.
San Lorenzo de Picurís
San Miguel Mission (originally Nuestra Señora de Perpétuo Socorro)
San Miguel Mission Chapel - The oldest church still in use in the United States.
Santa Ana Pueblo Mission - Completed in 1750.
Santo Domingo Mission - The original mission church was destroyed by flooding of the Rio Grande.
Santuario de Chimayó - Site of an Easter pilgrimage by foot to the holy spot every year by
Santuario de Guadalupe - The nation's oldest shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe.