History | San Xavier Del Bac Mission (original) (raw)

San Xavier del Bac Mission was founded in 1692 by Jesuit missionary Father Eusebio Francisco Kino, SJ who traveled extensively in the region to spread Catholicism and foster peace among Indigenous communities.

San Xavier del Bac Mission on the Tohono O’odham Nation in Tucson, Arizona was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960 by the Secretary of the Interior and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.

This Mission, continues it’s original purpose in serving the Tohono O’odham people of the Wa:k Community of the San Xavier District. The Mission building began as a modest adobe structure but soon transformed into an extraordinary architectural and spiritual marvel that we experience today.

Construction of the church we see today began in 1783, during the period when Southern Arizona was part of New Spain.

Thanks to a unique partnership between Franciscan missionary Fr. Juan Bautista Velderrain and Sonoran rancher contributions, work on the current building commenced under the direction of architect Ignacio Gaona.

Completed in 1797, it remains the oldest intact European structure in Arizona and an outstanding example of Spanish Colonial architecture.

Mission Architecture

The church’s design reflects Spain’s Baroque style, featuring elaborate, dramatic elements on both the interior and exterior.

Its thick walls, arches, and vaults are made from low-fire clay brick, stone, and lime mortar, with vaulted masonry roofing—a rarity in U.S. Spanish Colonial buildings.

Unique sculptural elements, likely created by artists from Querétaro in New Spain, were brought by mule over rugged terrain to be assembled and decorated in place.

The church is adorned with statues and vivid murals, some showing Franciscan symbols like the knotted cord and others depicting biblical themes. The Baroque artistry extends to decorative features such as faux doors and dramatic curtain motifs, giving the church an almost theatrical quality.

Historic Transformation

The history of San Xavier Mission is intertwined with the region’s changes in governance, religion, and culture:

1692: Father Kino visits the village of Wa:k

1700: Father Kino begins foundations on a church never built

1711: Father Kino dies in Magdalena, Sonora, Mexico

1756: Father Espinosa constructs the 1st church

1767: Jesuits are expelled from New Spain

1768: Spanish Franciscans take over the Mission

1783: Construction begins on the present church

1797: The Mission church is completed

1821: Spanish Franciscans leave

1846: Cooke’s Mormon battalion passes by the Mission

1854: Gadsden Purchase puts the Mission inside the United States

1859: Santa Fe diocese begins first repairs of the Mission

1887: Earthquake damages the Mission

1905: Bishop Granjon begins major repairs

1913: Franciscans return to the Mission

1939: Lightning strikes the West Tower

1953: Church facade is restored

1963: San Xavier becomes a National Historic Landmark

1978: Patronato San Xavier established to preserve the Mission

1989: Leaking walls force emergency restoration

1992: Conservators begin a 5-year rescue effort of the interior

Today, San Xavier continues as an active parish, fulfilling its original mission to serve its community while welcoming around 200,000 visitors annually.

Ongoing Restoration and Preservation Efforts

Over the centuries, the Mission has weathered natural disasters, including earthquakes and lightning strikes.

Bishop Henry Granjon led significant repair work in the early 20th century, and the church has since undergone numerous restoration efforts.

In 1978, the nonprofit Patronato San Xavier was established to address the Mission’s preservation needs, especially the challenges of moisture intrusion, which threatened its walls and artwork.

An extensive restoration project, spanning five years, was carried out by international conservators who meticulously cleaned, stabilized, and conserved the artwork and murals.

Current restoration focuses on removing the work of previous concrete contractors that put on cement coatings, which have trapped moisture, to allow the building’s adobe structure to breathe.

Visiting the Mission Today

Located just 9 miles south of downtown Tucson, San Xavier del Bac Mission is easily accessible and remains free to the public.

It’s an extraordinary opportunity to experience a piece of history—a beautifully preserved landmark that’s still active in the spiritual lives of its parishioners.

Today, the San Xavier del Bac Mission is celebrated as one of the finest examples of Spanish Colonial architecture in the U.S., with restoration efforts underway to preserve this national treasure for generations to come.