Near Rockdale in Milam County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Site of the Mission San Ildefonso

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, October 18, 2025

1. Site of the Mission San Ildefonso Marker

Inscription. Established by Franciscan missionaries in 1749 with the hope of civilizing and christianizing the Coco, Mayeye, Orcoquiza, Karankawa, and other tribes of Indians. The martyrdom of Padre José Ganzabal and the circumstances connected therewith caused the departure of the Indians and the friars and the removal of this mission to the San Marcos River in 1755. Reestablished in 1762 on the Nueces River for the conversion of the Lipan Apaches with the new name of Mission San Lorenzo de la Santa Cruz.

Erected 1936 by State of Texas. (Marker Number 7990.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail, and the Texas 1936 Centennial Markers and Monuments series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1749.

Location. 30° 41.406′ N, 97° 5.378′ W. Marker is near Rockdale, Texas, in Milam County. It is on County Road 429 0.3 miles south of Farm to Market Road 908, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map.

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Marker is in this post office area: Rockdale TX 76567, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Site of Mission San Francisco Xavier de Los Dolores (approx. 1.4 miles away); Site of the Mission Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (approx. 1.8 miles away); Apache Pass River Crossing (approx. 2.8 miles away); Worley Bridge (approx. 2.8 miles away); Bushdale Community (approx. 2.9 miles away); Sharp Cemetery (approx. 5 miles away); William Persky (approx. 5.1 miles away); Coffield House (approx. 5.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rockdale.

Also see . . . San Ildefonso Mission article at Handbook of Texas. (Submitted on June 22, 2015, by Gregory Walker of La Grange, Texas.)

Site of Mission San Ildefonso Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Gregory Walker, June 10, 2015

2. Site of Mission San Ildefonso Marker

Mission San Ildefonso Marker location, looking south. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Gregory Walker, June 10, 2015

3. Mission San Ildefonso Marker location, looking south.

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, October 18, 2025

4. Site of the Mission San Ildefonso Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2015, by Gregory Walker of La Grange, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,199 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 21, 2025, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. 2, 3. submitted on June 22, 2015, by Gregory Walker of La Grange, Texas. 4. submitted on October 21, 2025, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.