Mission Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo de Zúñiga
Encyclopedia
Mission Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo de Zúñiga
also known as Aranama Mission or
Mission La Bahia
was a Roman Catholic mission established by Spain in Victoria County, Texas
in northern New Spain in 1722 to convert local Native Karankawa
Indians to Christianity. Together with its partner Presidio La Bahia
, they would solidify Spanish territorial claims in the New World against encroachment from France. Today, the third and final structure, near Goliad, Texas
is maintained as a Texas State
Historical Park and museum.
near La Salle
's Fort Saint Louis on Garcitas Creek
, the mission and complementing presidio (fort) was intended to secure the Texas coastline from the French and to gather the local Cocos, Copanes, and Cujanes. Being unable to attract the Indians to stay at the mission and due to violence with the Spanish soldiers, the mission was relocated only four years later, to a more favorable location on the Guadalupe River
.
Artifacts from this settlement are currently on display at the Museum of the Coastal Bend in Victoria
.
Moved in 1726 near Victoria, it was established among the Tamique and Aranama Indians in Mission Valley. Dams and stone acequias were built to carry water from the river to the mission. A ranching outpost was also built of mortar and stone at Tonkawa Bank, on the river about 12 miles below. The presidio also followed and was built at what was later to become Fernando De Leon
's Ranch. The establishment prospered for 26 years, producing enough grain and hay to trade with other Spanish settlements. It was at this time that the foundation for cattle and horse ranching started. Although prosperous, Spanish officials recommended moving the mission to secure the area between Bexar and East Texas from the encroachment of the French and English.
Mission La Bahia moved in 1749 to La Bahia (now Goliad, Texas)
on the San Antonio River. Temporary jacale housing for was built from log and clay, with construction of a stone and mortar complex being immediately initiated and reaching completion in 1758. The mission was built with surrounding stone walls and included rooms to house the priests and the Indian families, a granary, workrooms and a separately located forge. The complementing presidio was built just across the river and at times housed Texian troops during the Texas Revolution
. The mission found success educating and serving the Aranama, Piguique, Manos de Perro, Tamique, Tawakoni, and Tonkawa
in the area, but usually faced opposition from raiding Apache
s and Commanches.
The mission became the first large cattle ranch in Texas, with near 40,000 free roaming cattle at the height of production in about 1778. The large herds of longhorns and mustangs were cared for by the vaquero Indians from the mission. They also grew large crops of grain, fruit and vegetables to support the residents and trade with others. Cattle and livestock were also driven and traded with the other missions in Texas and Louisiana.
The mission was to be secularized in 1794, but La Bahia remained in service until Mexican Independence in 1821. However, two Franciscans refused to leave and remained as parish priests. In 1830 the mission was finally secularized. With most Indians having already left, the premium lands of the mission were acquired by the local Mexican and American colonists. The old mission's stones were also allowed to be removed and used for local construction.
The remaining structure was used a public school in 1848–1856 and gradually fell into ruin.
The mission was restored from ruins by the Civilian Conservation Corps
and Works Progress Administration
in 1930 and became a State Park in 1931 and is currently operated by the State of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Additional construction in the 1960s and 1980s brought its appearance back to the 1749 mission.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
also known as Aranama Mission or
Mission La Bahia
was a Roman Catholic mission established by Spain in Victoria County, Texas
Victoria County, Texas
Victoria County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 84,088. Its county seat is Victoria. It is included in the Victoria, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According to the U.S...
in northern New Spain in 1722 to convert local Native Karankawa
Karankawa
Karankawa were a group of Native American peoples, now extinct as a tribal group, who played a pivotal part in early Texas history....
Indians to Christianity. Together with its partner Presidio La Bahia
Presidio La Bahía
The Presidio Nuestra Señora de Loreto de la Bahía, known more commonly as Presidio La Bahia, or simply La Bahia is a fort constructed by the Spanish Army that became the nucleus of the city of Goliad, Texas, United States. Originally founded in 1721 on the ruins of the failed French Fort Saint...
, they would solidify Spanish territorial claims in the New World against encroachment from France. Today, the third and final structure, near Goliad, Texas
Goliad, Texas
Goliad is a city in Goliad County, Texas, United States. It had a population of 1975 at the 2000 census. Founded on the San Antonio River, it is the county seat of Goliad County. It is part of the Victoria, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area. Goliad is located on U.S. Highway 59, named also for...
is maintained as a Texas State
Historical Park and museum.
Establishment
Established in 1722 on Matagorda BayMatagorda Bay
Matagorda Bay is a large estuary bay on the Texas coast, lying in Calhoun and Matagorda counties and located approximately northeast of Corpus Christi, southeast of San Antonio, southwest of Houston, and southeast of Austin. It is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by Matagorda Peninsula and...
near La Salle
La Salle, Texas
La Salle, Texas may refer to the following places:*La Salle, Calhoun County, Texas--former community*La Salle, Jackson County, Texas--unincorporated community*La Salle, La Salle County, Texas--former community; absorbed into CotullaSimilar names...
's Fort Saint Louis on Garcitas Creek
Garcitas Creek
Garcitas Creek is a river in Texas that La Salle and his men populated. They started a fort around it because it was their only source of fresh water. the fort was Fort Saint Louis, named after the current king of France...
, the mission and complementing presidio (fort) was intended to secure the Texas coastline from the French and to gather the local Cocos, Copanes, and Cujanes. Being unable to attract the Indians to stay at the mission and due to violence with the Spanish soldiers, the mission was relocated only four years later, to a more favorable location on the Guadalupe River
Guadalupe River (Texas)
The Guadalupe River runs from Kerr County, Texas to San Antonio Bay on the Gulf of Mexico. The river is a popular destination for rafters and canoers. Larger cities along the river include New Braunfels, Kerrville, Seguin, Gonzales, Cuero, and Victoria...
.
Artifacts from this settlement are currently on display at the Museum of the Coastal Bend in Victoria
Victoria, Texas
Victoria is a city in and the seat of Victoria County, Texas, United States. The population was 60,603 at the 2000 census. The three counties of the Victoria Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 111,163 at the 2000 census,...
.
Moved in 1726 near Victoria, it was established among the Tamique and Aranama Indians in Mission Valley. Dams and stone acequias were built to carry water from the river to the mission. A ranching outpost was also built of mortar and stone at Tonkawa Bank, on the river about 12 miles below. The presidio also followed and was built at what was later to become Fernando De Leon
Fernando De León
Fernando De León was a co-founder of Victoria, Texas, and the first commissioner and colonization manager of De León's Colony. He fought against Antonio López de Santa Anna. De León was an aide-de-camp to provisional Texas governor James W. Robinson...
's Ranch. The establishment prospered for 26 years, producing enough grain and hay to trade with other Spanish settlements. It was at this time that the foundation for cattle and horse ranching started. Although prosperous, Spanish officials recommended moving the mission to secure the area between Bexar and East Texas from the encroachment of the French and English.
Mission La Bahia moved in 1749 to La Bahia (now Goliad, Texas)
Goliad, Texas
Goliad is a city in Goliad County, Texas, United States. It had a population of 1975 at the 2000 census. Founded on the San Antonio River, it is the county seat of Goliad County. It is part of the Victoria, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area. Goliad is located on U.S. Highway 59, named also for...
on the San Antonio River. Temporary jacale housing for was built from log and clay, with construction of a stone and mortar complex being immediately initiated and reaching completion in 1758. The mission was built with surrounding stone walls and included rooms to house the priests and the Indian families, a granary, workrooms and a separately located forge. The complementing presidio was built just across the river and at times housed Texian troops during the Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
. The mission found success educating and serving the Aranama, Piguique, Manos de Perro, Tamique, Tawakoni, and Tonkawa
Tonkawa
The Tickanwa•tic Tribe , better known as the Tonkawa , are a Native American people indigenous to present-day Oklahoma and Texas. They once spoke the now-extinct Tonkawa language believed to have been a language isolate not related to any other indigenous tongues...
in the area, but usually faced opposition from raiding Apache
Apache
Apache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...
s and Commanches.
The mission became the first large cattle ranch in Texas, with near 40,000 free roaming cattle at the height of production in about 1778. The large herds of longhorns and mustangs were cared for by the vaquero Indians from the mission. They also grew large crops of grain, fruit and vegetables to support the residents and trade with others. Cattle and livestock were also driven and traded with the other missions in Texas and Louisiana.
The mission was to be secularized in 1794, but La Bahia remained in service until Mexican Independence in 1821. However, two Franciscans refused to leave and remained as parish priests. In 1830 the mission was finally secularized. With most Indians having already left, the premium lands of the mission were acquired by the local Mexican and American colonists. The old mission's stones were also allowed to be removed and used for local construction.
The remaining structure was used a public school in 1848–1856 and gradually fell into ruin.
The mission was restored from ruins by the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
and Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
in 1930 and became a State Park in 1931 and is currently operated by the State of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Additional construction in the 1960s and 1980s brought its appearance back to the 1749 mission.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.