Spanish missions in New Mexico facts for kids

The Spanish Missions in New Mexico were like special outposts built by Franciscan friars (who are a type of Christian priest). They were set up a long time ago in a place called Santa Fe de Nuevo México, which is now New Mexico.

These missions had a big goal: to teach Native Americans about Christianity. The Spanish rulers and the government of Viceroyalty of New Spain (which was a big Spanish territory) wanted to do this.

History of the Missions

The missions tried to make the Native American people more like the Spanish. This affected many different groups, including the Pueblo, Tiwa, Navajo, and Apache tribes.

The missions also aimed to stop the Native Americans from fighting against the Europeans who were moving into their lands. The Native Americans were losing their old traditions and homes.

The Spanish brought new things to the Southwest, like livestock (farm animals), different fruits, and vegetables. They also started small industries. But sadly, they also brought European diseases. Native people had never been exposed to these diseases before, so they often got very sick because they had no immunity.

A friar named Marcos de Niza first saw the New Mexico area in 1539. He was sent by Coronado. The very first lasting Spanish settlement was Mission San Gabriel. It was started in 1598 by Juan de Oñate near what is now called Ohkay Owingeh.

Important Missions

Here are some of the Spanish missions in New Mexico:

Name	Image	Location	Started	Notes
Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Porciúncula		Near Pecos 35°33′00″N 105°41′4″W / 35.55000°N 105.68444°W / 35.55000; -105.68444 (Pecos)	1598	The first church was used for a short time. A new church was finished after 1629. It was destroyed in 1680 and rebuilt several times. It was left empty in 1838. Today, its ruins are part of Pecos National Historical Park.
Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Zía		Zia Pueblo	1598	First called San Pedro y San Pablo. It was damaged in 1680 and renamed in 1692. A new church was built around 1700.
San Juan Bautista de los Caballeros		Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo	1598	Destroyed in 1680, then rebuilt around 1706. A new church was built in 1913.
San José de los Jémez		Near Jemez Springs 35°46′38″N 106°41′11″W / 35.77722°N 106.68639°W / 35.77722; -106.68639 (Jemez)	around 1600	The church was finished between 1625 and 1628, then left empty around 1630. Its ruins are now part of Jemez Historic Site.
San Felipe		San Felipe Pueblo	1605	Destroyed in 1680, then rebuilt in a new spot in 1706. It was updated around 1801.
Santo Domingo		Kewa Pueblo	1607	Destroyed in 1680, then rebuilt in 1706. Both churches were destroyed by a flood from the Rio Grande river in 1886. The church you see today was built in 1895 in a new location.
Nuestra Señora de Dolores y de San Antonio de Sandía		Sandia Pueblo	around 1610	First called San Francisco de Sandía. It was destroyed in 1680. It was restarted in 1748. The current church was built in 1864.
Nuestra Señora de los Remedios de Galisteo		Pueblo Galisteo, Galisteo Basin	around 1610	Left empty in 1680, restarted in 1706, then left empty again in the 1780s.
San Marcos		Pueblo San Marcos, Galisteo Basin	around 1610	Left empty in 1680.
San Miguel		Santa Fe 35°41′00″N 105°56′16″W / 35.68343°N 105.93767°W / 35.68343; -105.93767 (San Miguel)	around 1610	Built around 1610, partly destroyed in 1680, then rebuilt in 1710.
San Agustín de la Isleta		Isleta Pueblo 34°54′32.4″N 106°41′36.0″W / 34.909000°N 106.693333°W / 34.909000; -106.693333 (Isleta)	around 1612	The church was built between 1613 and 1617. It was updated in the early 1900s and again in 1962.
San Francisco de Nambé		Nambé Pueblo	1613	The church was built around 1617, destroyed in 1680, and rebuilt in 1725. It collapsed around 1908. The current church was built in 1975.
San Jerónimo de Taos		Taos Pueblo	1617	The church was built around 1626. It was destroyed in 1680 and rebuilt around 1706. It was destroyed again during the Taos Revolt in 1847. The current church was built around 1850. The ruins of the old church are still there.
San Ildefonso		San Ildefonso Pueblo	around 1617	Destroyed in 1680, then rebuilt in 1711. It was updated in 1905 and rebuilt in 1968.
San Lorenzo de Picurís		Picuris Pueblo	around 1620	Destroyed in 1680, rebuilt in 1706, and again in the 1740s. Destroyed again in 1769 and rebuilt around 1776. It was updated around 1900 and in the 1960s.
San Gregorio de Abó		Near Mountainair 34°26′56″N 106°22′17″W / 34.44889°N 106.37139°W / 34.44889; -106.37139 (Abo)	1622	Built between 1629 and 1644, then left empty by 1678. Its ruins are part of Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument.
San Estévan del Rey de Ácoma		Acoma Pueblo 34°53′42″N 107°34′57″W / 34.89500°N 107.58250°W / 34.89500; -107.58250 (Acoma)	1623	The church was finished around 1630. It was damaged in 1680 and rebuilt between 1696 and 1700.
Nuestra Señora de Perpetuo Socorro		Socorro 34°3′37″N 106°53′38″W / 34.06028°N 106.89389°W / 34.06028; -106.89389 (Socorro)	1626	Destroyed in 1680. The current San Miguel Church was built on the same spot between 1816 and 1821.
San Antonio de Padua de Senecú		Near Socorro, exact location unknown	1626	The pueblo and mission were left empty in 1675.
Santa Clara		Santa Clara Pueblo	around 1626	Rebuilt around 1758. It collapsed in 1905. Rebuilt around 1914 and updated in the 1960s.
Nuestra Señora de Purísima Concepción de Quarai		Near Mountainair 34°35′45″N 106°17′42″W / 34.59583°N 106.29500°W / 34.59583; -106.29500 (Quarai)	1627	Built between 1627 and 1633, then left empty by 1677. Its ruins are part of Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument.
San Luis Obispo de Sevilleta		Near Socorro	1627	Later became a smaller outpost of Socorro. Left empty in 1680.
La Purísima Concepcíón de Hawikuh		Near Zuni Pueblo 34°55′56″N 108°59′4.4″W / 34.93222°N 108.984556°W / 34.93222; -108.984556 (Hawikuh)	1628	Destroyed in 1680.
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Zuñi		Zuni Pueblo	1629	Damaged in 1680, then rebuilt around 1692.
San Ysidro and San Buenaventura de Humanas (Gran Quivira)		Near Mountainair	around 1629	San Ysidro chapel built around 1629–1632. San Buenaventura built around the 1660s. Their ruins are part of Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument.
San Diego de Tesuque		Tesuque Pueblo	late 1620s	First called San Lorenzo. Destroyed in 1680, then restarted as San Diego in 1695. The church was rebuilt around 1706 and updated around 1914.
San Buenaventura de Cochití		Cochiti Pueblo	around 1630	Destroyed in 1680, then rebuilt around 1706. It was updated around 1900 and in the 1960s.
Santa Ana		Santa Ana Pueblo	around 1693	The church was built around 1700. A larger church was built between 1734 and 1750.
San José de Laguna		Laguna Pueblo	around 1700	This church is still used today.
San Francisco de Asís		Ranchos de Taos 36°21′31″N 105°36′30″W / 36.35851388888889°N 105.60841388888889°W / 36.35851388888889; -105.60841388888889 (San Francisco de Asis)	around 1815

Other Important Churches (Not Missions)

• El Santuario de Chimayó - This is a very special holy place. Many people walk there for Easter every year. It was started around 1810 as a private chapel, not a mission.
• San Francisco de Asís Mission Church - This church was built between 1772 and 1816. It is in the historic area of Ranchos de Taos.
• Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe - This church was founded around 1777. Many believe it is the oldest shrine in the country dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe. It was not a mission.