Socorro Mission facts for kids
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Socorro Mission
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Socorro Mission
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 Socorro Mission
Location in Texas
Socorro Mission
Location in the United States
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| Location | 328 S. Nevarez Rd, Socorro, Texas |
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| Area | 11 acres (4.5 ha) |
| Built | 1682, 1840 |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001359 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 16, 1972 |
The Socorro Mission is a historic church located in Socorro, Texas. It was first built in 1682 by a group of Franciscan friars. These friars were Catholic priests who helped people. The mission was created to help Spanish families and Native American groups. These groups, like the Piro, Tano, and Jemez people, had to leave their homes in New Mexico during the Pueblo Revolt.
The mission you see today was built around 1839. It replaced an older mission from the 1700s. The first mission was sadly destroyed in 1829 by a big flood from the Rio Grande river.
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Building the Mission
The Socorro Mission is made from adobe, which is a type of sun-dried brick. The outside is covered with stucco, a kind of plaster. What makes this mission really special is its inside.
Special Features Inside
Look up when you are inside the mission! You will see beautiful painted and decorated wooden beams. These beams are called vigas (VEE-gahs). The amazing thing is that these vigas are from the original 18th-century mission. They were carefully saved and reused when the new church was built.
The way the Socorro Mission is built, with its shapes and decorations, shows a strong connection to how buildings were made in Spanish New Mexico in the 1600s. It's like a living piece of history!
Where to Find the Mission
The Socorro Mission is located at 328 S. Nevarez Road. You can find it south of El Paso near I-10 at Moon Road and FM 258.
A Replica for History
Did you know there was once a full-size copy of the Socorro Mission? This replica was part of El Paso's display at the 1936 Texas Centennial celebration. This big event took place at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. After the celebration, the replica was taken apart. Then, it was rebuilt and became St. Anthony Church in Dallas.
See also
