Mission Espiritu Santo
Nestled along the San Antonio River, Mission Nuestra Señora de la Bahía del Espíritu Santo de Zúñiga offers a captivating glimpse into Texas’s rich Spanish colonial past. Mission Espiritu Santo, as it is commonly known, was first established in 1722 by Franciscan priests and then relocated three times, finally arriving at its current location in 1749. During its heyday, this mission was a cornerstone of Spanish efforts to colonize and evangelize the region. It also played an important role in establishing cattle ranching culture in Texas. However, by 1830, the mission was abandoned and fell into ruin. Then, in the mid-1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps began a complete restoration of the chapel and surrounding buildings, which was finished in 1941. Today it sits within Goliad State Park, between the town of Goliad, Texas and another historic site, Presidio La Bahia, looking much like it would have in 1749.
As I continue to explore South Texas and the areas around Corpus Christi, I recently spent an afternoon in Goliad visiting several historic sites there. My first stop that day, and probably my favorite of the trip, was Mission Espiritu Santo. I love architectural photography and I was immediately enchanted by the weathered limestone walls, the tall bell tower, and the intricate details throughout. I never know what is going to draw my eye when I visit a place for the first time. Of course, the chapel itself and the displays inside caught my attention from the beginning. But as I spent more time here, I began to notice many more features. I ended up being enamored with many of the unique windows I saw as I walked around the outside of the buildings. Those ended up being my favorite photos. I knew nothing about the history of the site before my visit. And honestly, once I found out that it was almost entirely a reconstruction built by the CCC nearly 100 years ago, I was even more impressed. By the end of my visit, I was able to capture a pretty eclectic collection of photos, which you can see below.
If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend visiting Mission Espiritu Santo. In addition to the chapel, granary, and other buildings filled with informative exhibits, there is a small museum with artifacts like pottery and tools that help show daily life at the mission in the 18th century. There is a lot of history here, and a lot of inspiration for great photos. Be sure to visit some of the other nearby sites like Presidio La Bahia and the massive courthouse in downtown Goliad, too.
