ON THE ROAD ARIZONA
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San Xavier del Bac Mission

San Xavier del Bac was founded as a Catholic mission in 1692 but construction on this church did not start until 1783 and wasn't completed until 1797. One of the bell towers was never finished, but San Xavier is the oldest European structure in Arizona. 

The White Dove of the Desert, as it is known, was part of New Spain when it was built. It became part of Mexico in 1821 with Mexican independence and then part of the United States after the Gadsden Purchase in 1854.

San Xavier, about nine miles southwest of downtown Tucson, is on the Tohono O'odham Nation. About 200,000 people visit the mission annually. It is currently undergoing restoration work on the east tower.

Established: 1783
Picture
Restoration work is underway on the unfinished east bell tower.
Visit another nearby mission at Tumacacori:
http://www.ontheroadarizona.com/tumacacori.html
Picture
San Xavier del Bac Mission southwest of Tucson is known as the White Dove of the Desert.
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An adobe wall surrounding the mission shows its age.
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The Franciscan Sisters of Charity run the San Xavier Mission School
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San Xavier del Bac became part of the diocese of New Mexico in 1859.
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  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Best of Arizona
    • Historic Maps
    • Best Arizona Events
    • Best Cycling Route
    • Best Scenic Drives
    • Best Saloons
    • Best Cactus League Ballparks
    • Best Vintage Neon
    • Best Bridges
    • Best Place Names
    • Best Historic Hotels
    • Best Road Songs
    • Best Historic Lodges
    • Arizona state symbols
    • Best Ways to Stay Safe
    • Best Metro Phoenix Resorts
  • Route 66
    • Ash Fork
    • Bellemont
    • Flagstaff Route 66
    • Hackberry
    • Holbrook Route 66
    • Joseph City
    • Kingman Route 66
    • Lupton
    • Oatman
    • Peach Springs
    • Seligman
    • Truxton
    • Twin Arrows
    • Two Guns
    • Williams
    • Winslow Route 66
  • Towns (A-F)
    • Ajo
    • Bisbee
    • Camp Verde
    • Cave Creek
    • Clarkdale
    • Clifton
    • Cottonwood
    • Douglas
    • Flagstaff
    • Florence
  • Towns (G-P)
    • Globe
    • Holbrook
    • Jerome
    • Kingman
    • Lake Havasu City
    • Mesa
    • Miami
    • Page
    • Payson
    • Prescott
  • Towns Q-Z
    • Salome
    • Scottsdale
    • Sedona
    • Superior
    • Tombstone
    • Tucson
    • Wickenburg
    • Willcox
    • Winslow
    • Yuma
  • Natl Parks
    • Canyon de Chelly
    • Chiricahua NM
    • Grand Canyon North Rim
    • Grand Canyon South Rim
    • Granite Mtn. Hotshots Memorial
    • Hubbell Trading Post
    • Jerome State Historic Park
    • Montezuma Castle NM
    • Navajo National Monument
    • Organ Pipe National Monument
    • Petrified Forest NP
    • Saguaro NP
    • San Xavier del Bac Mission
    • Sunset Crater Volcano NM
    • Superstitions
    • Tumacacori NHP
    • Tuzigoot NM
    • Walnut Canyon NM
    • Wupatki NM