Mission Valley in Tucson in Pima County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Mission San Xavier del Bac
Photographed By Meg B, November 21, 2019
1. Mission San Xavier del Bac Marker
Inscription.
Mission San Xavier del Bac was founded by Father Eusebio Kino as a Catholic mission in 1692. This Baroque architecture style building is the oldest intact European structure in Arizona. Construction began in 1783 and was completed in 1797. The "White Dove" has served the religious needs of its parishioners for over 300 years., Glydie Ann Nelson, State President , National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century , November 15, 2012
Mission San Xavier del Bac was founded by Father Eusebio Kino as a Catholic mission in 1692. This Baroque architecture style building is the oldest intact European structure in Arizona. Construction began in 1783 and was completed in 1797. The "White Dove" has served the religious needs of its parishioners for over 300 years.
Glydie Ann Nelson, State President
National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century
November 15, 2012
Erected 2012 by National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century.
Location. 32° 6.431′ N, 111° 0.458′ W. Marker is in Tucson, Arizona, in Pima County. It is in Mission Valley. The marker is in the main corridor after passing through the entrance to the museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1950 W San Xavier Rd, Tucson AZ 85746, United States of America. Touch for directions.
The marker is on the left on one of the corridor columns. Note the ceiling made of local materials.
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, June 7, 2015
3. Courtyard fountain at Mission San Xavier del Bac
Photochrom postcard by the Detroit Photographic Company, 1902
4. San Xavier Mission, Tucson, Arizona.
The current church dates from the late 1700's, when Southern Arizona was part of New Spain. In 1783, Franciscan missionary Fr. Juan Bautista Velderrain was able to begin construction on the present structure using money borrowed from a Sonoran rancher. He hired an architect, Ignacio Gaona, and a large workforce of O'odham to create the present church....Following Mexican independence in 1821, San Xavier became part of Mexico. The last resident Franciscan of the 19th Century departed in 1837. With the Gadsden Purchase of 1854, the Mission joined the United States. In 1859 San Xavier became part of the Diocese of Santa Fe. In 1866 Tucson became an incipient diocese and regular services were held at the Mission once again. Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet opened a school at the Mission in 1872. Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity now teach at the school and reside in the convent....
The Franciscans returned to the Mission in 1913. Recently, Mission San Xavier became a separate nonprofit entity. It remains a testament to the endurance of culture thoughout our history. - SanXavierMission.org
Credits. This page was last revised on December 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 11, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 533 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on April 22, 2020, by Meg B of Chesapeake, Virginia. 2, 3. submitted on June 11, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. 4. submitted on August 29, 2015. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.