Mission Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo de Zúñiga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mission Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo de Zúñiga |
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The chapel of Mission Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo de Zúñiga.
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Location | |
| Location | Goliad, Texas United States |
 Location in Texas
Location in the United States
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| Architecture | |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial |
| Date established | 1722 |
| Completed | 1749 |
| Specifications | |
| Site area | 28 acres (11 ha) |
| Materials | stone and mortar |
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| Added to NRHP | August 22, 1977 |
| NRHP Reference no. | 77001446 |
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Designated | March 12, 2001 |
| Parent listing | Goliad State Park Historic District |
| Reference no. | 01000258 |
| June 28, 1983 | |
| 8200000287 | |
Mission Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo de Zúñiga was a Roman Catholic mission built by Spain in 1722. It is also known as Aranama Mission or Mission La Bahía. Its main goal was to teach Christianity to the native Karankawa people. This mission, along with a nearby fort called Presidio La Bahía, helped Spain protect its land in the New World. They wanted to keep the French from taking over. Today, the mission's final location near Goliad, Texas is part of Goliad State Park and Historic Site.
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Building the Mission: First Steps
The mission was first built in 1722 near Matagorda Bay. This spot was close to La Salle's Fort Saint Louis. The mission and its fort were meant to protect the Texas coast from the French. They also hoped to bring in local Cocos, Copanes, and Cujanes tribes.
However, the native people did not want to stay at the mission. There was also fighting with the Spanish soldiers. Because of these problems, the mission moved just four years later. It went to a better spot on the Guadalupe River. You can see items from this early settlement at the Museum of the Coastal Bend in Victoria.
A Second Home for the Mission
In 1726, the mission moved near Victoria. It was set up among the Tamique and Aranama tribes in Mission Valley. The people at the mission built dams and stone ditches, called acequias, to bring water from the river. They also built a ranching outpost from stone and mortar. This outpost was about 12 miles down the river.
The fort, or presidio, also moved to this area. It was built where Fernando de León's Ranch would later be. The mission did very well for 26 years. It grew enough grain and hay to trade with other Spanish settlements. This is when cattle and horse ranching first started in the area. Even though it was successful, Spanish leaders suggested moving the mission again. They wanted to better protect the area between Béxar and East Texas from French and English settlers.
Moving to Goliad: A New Home
Mission La Bahía moved for the last time in 1749. Its new home was in what is now Goliad, Texas, on the San Antonio River. At first, temporary homes called "jacales" were built. These were made from logs and clay. Then, they started building strong outer walls and inner buildings from stone and mortar. These main buildings were finished in 1758.
Inside the stone walls, the mission had rooms for the priests and native families. There was also a place to store grain, workrooms, and a separate workshop for metalwork, called a forge. The fort, Presidio La Bahía, was built right across the river. The mission was good at teaching and helping the Aranama, Piguique, Manos de Perro, Tamique, Tawakoni, and Tonkawa tribes. But by the early 1830s, they faced attacks from Apaches and Comanches.
Texas' First Big Ranch
This mission became the first large cattle ranch in Texas. Around 1778, it had almost 40,000 free-roaming cattle. These large herds of Texas longhorns and mustangs were cared for by native vaqueros from the mission. The people living at the mission also grew huge amounts of grain, fruit, and vegetables. They used these crops to feed themselves and to trade with others. Cattle and other animals were also taken to and traded with missions in East Texas and western Louisiana.
Mission's End and New Beginnings
The mission was supposed to become a regular church in 1794. But La Bahía kept serving its purpose until Mexico became independent in 1821. Two Franciscan priests chose to stay and serve as local priests. In 1830, the mission finally stopped being a mission. Most native people had already left. The valuable mission lands were bought by local Mexican and American settlers.
The mission buildings themselves were given to the City of Goliad. People were allowed to take stones from the old mission to use for building in the town. The city rented out the site between 1848 and 1856. It was used first as a Baptist school, then a Presbyterian school. But over time, the buildings slowly fell apart.
Bringing the Mission Back to Life
In 1931, the mission ruins became part of the new Goliad State Park. In 1933, a group called the Civil Works Administration started rebuilding the stone chapel and granary. They followed old drawings from the National Park Service. Another group, the Civilian Conservation Corps, finished restoring the mission between 1935 and 1941. They had money from the Works Progress Administration. More building work in the 1960s and 1980s made the mission look like it did in 1749.
The mission was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 22, 1977. Today, the park is managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
See also
