Credit: Nuestro Stories
A National Historical Landmark, the San Xavier del Bac Mission was founded in 1700 by Father Eusebio Kino, one of the Jesuit colonizers who founded a strip of missions along the Sonoran Mountain Range in the hopes of spreading Christianity whether by conversion or force, to the tribes who were Indigenous to the areas.
Catholicism was a major component built into the concept of colonization during the 17th and 18th century. The Jesuits who ran San Xavier del Bac, which is on the land of the Tohono O’oodham tribe, adopted the concept of animal husbandry and introduced domesticated horses and cattle to the tribe in order to entice them to convert, becoming a more Hispanicized version of themselves. A version that relied on permanent settlement versus nomadic life, but only through the safety of the church. A church that embodied their more Hispanicized selves were employed – whether through choice or force – to build.
Read more: ‘El Misisipi’ Was the First Hispanic Newspaper in the U.S.
Carrying the Hispanic influence one step further, it was the only mission who shied away from using any form of Indigenous influence on the building or its appearance. While most were modeled on a more pueblo, adobe style of architecture, the San Xavier del Bac Mission is the only mission to be modeled completely on European design with mostly Byzanntine and Moorish influence.
Things to Know Before You Go:
- The San Xavier Del Bac is open to visitors 7am to 5pm every day except for days with a special service. The general public is invited to take part in Sunday mass.
- The site of the mission is located at 1950 W. San Xavier Rd. Tucson, AZ.
- The site has been registered with the National Park Services American Southwest Travel Itinerary as a site not to be missed.
- Virtually visit it here.
