Mission Tejas State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tejas Mission
The CCC built replica of Mission Tejas.
Location	Houston County, Texas
Nearest city	Crockett
Area	660 acres (270 ha)
Established	1957
Governing body	Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Mission Tejas State Park is a cool place to visit in Houston County, Texas. It's a big park, about 660-acre (270 ha) in size. You can find it along Texas State Highway 21, near the town of Crockett, Texas. The park was first built in 1935 and became a state park in 1957. It's open all year round for everyone to enjoy!

Discover Mission Tejas State Park

Mission Tejas State Park is full of history and fun activities. It has a special replica of the very first Spanish mission in Texas. You can also see one of the oldest buildings still standing in Houston County. Part of an ancient road, the El Camino Real de los Tejas, also runs through the park.

If you love the outdoors, this park is for you! It has 15 campsites with facilities and 2 simple, "primitive" camping spots. There's a small pond where you can go fishing. Plus, there are about 4.5 miles of hiking trails to explore.

Park History: A Journey Through Time

The land for Mission Tejas State Park was bought with help from local people. They wanted to save this important piece of history. Spanish artifacts were found nearby, and people were very interested in finding the original Mission San Francisco de los Tejas. Locals thought this land might be the spot, so they bought it and gave it to Texas.

The park was built between 1934 and 1935 by a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). These workers built the park roads, camping areas, a fire watch tower, and the first trails. The park was first part of the Texas Forest Service. In 1957, it became Mission Tejas State Park under Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Ancient History: The Caddo People

Before Europeans arrived, the area around the park was home to the Nabedache (or Tejas) Indians. They were part of the Caddo nation. The park is only six miles from the Caddo Mounds State Historic Site. These native people lived in villages along San Pedro Creek and the Neches River. The park has several known Caddo sites, but their exact spots are kept secret to protect them.

The First Spanish Mission

Mission San Francisco de los Tejas was started on May 23, 1690. Captain Alonzo de Leon and Father Massanet, a Franciscan priest, built it. The Spanish spent three days building a church and small living areas among the Tejas villages. Another mission, Mission Santissimo Nombre de Maria, was also built nearby that same year.

However, Mission San Francisco de los Tejas was left behind on October 25, 1693. The Spanish soldiers' actions made the Tejas people upset. Also, crops failed for two years in a row. Then, a sickness spread, killing many natives and one Spanish missionary. These events made the Tejas people more hostile. Fearing for their safety, the Spanish decided to leave. They buried the mission's bells and heavy items, set the mission on fire, and left for San Antonio.

The missions in this area were not rebuilt for many years. No one knows the exact spot of the original San Francisco de los Tejas today. Because of the fire and time, it's hard to find. But the park has a special replica of what the mission might have looked like.

Early American Settlers

In the 1820s, American settlers started moving into this area. The Rice Family Log Home in the park shows this part of history. It was first built in 1828 and had additions in 1838. This home was made from local wood by hand. The Rice family came to Texas with land given to them by the Spanish government.

The home still has original wallpaper and paint from the 1890s. About 80% of the house is still original! People lived in it until about 1918, when it became a storage building. In 1974, it was given to the state and moved to the park. The log home is a popular spot for school groups and anyone interested in early Texas history. It might be the oldest building still standing in Houston County.

The Royal Road: El Camino Real

The park has a real piece of the El Camino Real de los Tejas. This historic road went from Natchitoches, Louisiana all the way to San Antonio. For centuries, it was the main path across Texas. The Rice Family Log Home in the park even served as an inn for travelers on this road. Visitors to the park can still see the ruts left by carts along the path!

Building the Park: The CCC

Company 888 of the Civilian Conservation Corps built this park from 1934 to 1935. Their camp was about a mile from where the park is now. They built a dam and spillway, creating a small pond. They also built a fire watchtower, campsites, trails, and the park road.

The park also has a natural spring-fed pool that was lost until the 1980s. The CCC workers bricked up the spring and might have made another rock feature downhill. Some say the CCC used it for bathing, but their camp was too far away for that to be likely. CCC Company 888 also built the replica of Mission San Francisco de los Tejas.

Natural Wonders: Piney Woods and Wildlife

Mission Tejas State Park is located at the northern edge of Davy Crockett National Forest. It's part of the beautiful Piney Woods region of East Texas. The most common tree here is the loblolly pine.

In the early 1900s, many trees were cut down. But the CCC replanted much of the area, including the trees in the park. That's why most trees in the park are less than eighty years old. The park is home to lots of wildlife, like squirrels, rabbits, foxes, and deer. Many different kinds of birds also live here. You'll see pines, oaks, and other plants typical of the Piney Woods.

Fun Things to Do at the Park

Mission Tejas State Park offers many ways to have fun outdoors! Popular activities include:

• Hiking on different trails
• Watching for wildlife and enjoying nature
• Geocaching (a treasure hunt using GPS)
• Fishing in the pond
• Camping

The park has different types of campsites. You can find simple tent sites with just water, or full hook-up sites for RVs. There are 15 developed campsites and 2 primitive ones. The trails range from easy to walk on to steep and narrow.

Park staff also lead educational programs and teach outdoor skills every week. Each April, the park hosts a Folk Festival. It includes historical reenactments and shows how pioneers lived and worked.