Goliad Mission Espiritu Santo

Mission Espiritu Santo

Goliad, Texas

October 19, 2019

A tour of Texas History

One of the great benefits of touring all over Texas is the opportunity to see the local sights and get a taste of Texas history. 

In previous years, the Missions Tour de Goliad would have us cycle past the missions, the Presidio, and Fannin Memorial as part of our tour route. However, this year construction on Highway 183 caused the tour directors to temporarily change the route. Hence, after the ride and great sausage wraps for lunch, Christine and I decided to tour the historical sights on our own.  

Above sign:

Mission Espiritu Santo

A mission for the Aranamas

Originally established near present Matagorda Bay, Mission Nuestra Senora del Espiritu Santo de Zuniga was moved to this San Antonio River location in 1749. Here, for more than 70 years, the Francisican missionaries taught the native Aranama people the religious principles and craft skills they needed to become good Spanish citizens on the remote northern frontier. The immense herds of cattle that supported the mission population became the foundation for the ranching industry of modern Texas.

 The purpose of the mission, along with its military fortress, was to secure the Texas coastline from the French and to Christianize the native Karankawa Indians. The Franciscan priests also tried to gather the local Coco, Copane, and Cujane Indians. Like the French settlement at Matagorda Bay, the Spanish fort and mission there did not last long, failing to grow crops and attract the local peoples to convert.

As a result, the mission was moved in 1726 near present-day Victoria, Texas, where the Tamique and Aranama peoples lived. This site lasted for 26 years until Spanish officials recommended moving the mission to secure the area between Bexar and East Texas from the encroachment of the French and English.
(Actually, the French colonized this part of Texas before the Spanish. A fort was established in 1685 near Matagorda Bay by explorer Robert Cavalier de La Salle. Recall that the first Spanish mission was near Matagorda Bay in 1722).

In 1749 Mission Espíritu Santo and Presidio Nuestra Señora de Loreto de Bahía were moved to what is now Goliad, Texas, one on each bank of the San Antonio River. (The Presidio will be featured later). The first structures were "jacales" or log structures sealed with mud. The cabin on the right is the only log-mud noted on the grounds). 

The mission became the first large cattle ranch in Texas, with nearly 40,000 free roaming cattle at the height of production in about 1778.

After the history lesson, it was time to enter the chapel and tour the interior.

The museum on the premises contained a replica of the outer defenses.

Across the San Antonio river is the Presidio La Bahai which will follow soon. Our tour of history continues.