Mission Dolores State Historic Site

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Located on the southern edge of San Augustine, Mission Dolores State Historic Site interprets the history of a Spanish mission that was established at this site in 1721. No physical remains of the mission's building exist today but archaeologists have excavated the site. The complex includes a museum, campground, picnic area, and trails. Mission Dolores was situated along the El Camino Real de Los Tejas road which stretched from present-day Natchitoches, Louisiana to Laredo, Texas. The mission was originally founded by Father Antonio Margil in 1717 who was tasked with proselytizing to the Ais Indians who lived in the area. The mission failed in this effort and was abandoned after just two years. However, it was reestablished in 1721 and operated until 1773. The museum's exhibits and interpretive displays explore the history of the mission.

Images

The site features a museum, trails, campground, and picnic areas.

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

The El Camino Real de Los Tejas was a royal Spanish road that traversed present-day Texas. It wasn't actually a single road but consisted of several trade routes and Indian trails that followed the same direction connecting Louisiana to Mexico. Mission Dolores was one of over a dozen Spanish settlements in eastern Texas whose purpose was to strengthen Spain's control of Texas. For many years, France vied for control as well but wouldn't give up until 1762 when it officially abandoned the effort.

Although the Spanish priests and soldiers who lived and worked at Mission Dolores failed to convert Ais Indians to Christianity and become Spanish citizens, the mission was an established point along the Camino where Indians and Europeans gathered and traded peacefully. Given its remote location, the Spanish at the mission were forced to trade with the French and their network of Indian allies in the region even though this was forbidden. For most of the time, life at the mission was quiet. Travelers on the road, such as Spanish soldiers and officials, supply convos, French traders, and of course, Indians, came intermittently.

Mission Dolores was abandoned in 1753, ultimately failing to achieve its objective. The site eventually disappeared as nature took over. However, it was never entirely forgotten as memories of it were passed down by locals, including descendants of those who had lived in the area. Its exact location wasn't discovered until the 1970s. Unfortunately by then much of it had been destroyed when Highway 147 was built. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.

Sources

"A Brief History." National Park Service - El Camino Real de Los Tejas National Historic Trail. Accessed October 31, 2020. https://www.nps.gov/elte/learn/historyculture/index.htm.

"Mission Dolores State Historic Site." Texas Historical Commission. Accessed October 31, 2020. https://www.thc.texas.gov/historic-sites/mission-dolores-state-historic-site.

"Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de los Ais: Spanish Mission on the Camino Real." Texas Beyond History. Accessed October 31, 2020. https://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/dolores.

"San Augustine: Mission Dolores State Historic Site." Texas Forest Trail. Accessed October 31, 2020. https://texasforesttrail.com/plan-your-adventure/historic-sites-and-cities/sites/mission-dolores-state-historic-site.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

All images via the Texas Historical Commission

Additional Information