U. S. Mission Trail / The Mission Trail Today - The Spanish Missions in Texas

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Select photographs of my many visits to The Missions of the United States South and Southwest built by Spain and Mexico between 1565 and 1823.
All photographs taken by Kenneth A. Larson. All rights reserved. © 2008 - 2026.

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San Clemente Mission

Founded 1684
by Juan Dominguez de Mendoza and Fray Nicolas Lopez
in or near Runnels County

Personal Observations

The marker is in the middle of farmland on the side of a quiet highway. According to the marker, the site of the Mission is actually 10 miles southeast. The actual site is unknown, maybe 17 miles south of Ballinger, or maybe further south, closer to Junction. But the marker is here, beside the highway, on a sight rise. This remote Mission was one of the three I visited on my way home.

Artwork pending.

History

TEXT HERE
Believed to be the first Mission established in Texas east of the Pecos River and one of the first in Texas, founded in 1684.
It was a two-room structure on a hill, hastilly built, probably ofl ogs. A two-story structrure, the lower floor was the chapel and upper floor was a lookoutpost. It was established at the request of the Jumano, it was short lived, March 15 to May 1 while awaiting envoys from 48 tribes. In this short time, the Missionaries baptised many of the people. After an attack by hostile Apaches, Mendoza and his men returned to El Paso six months after leaving.

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This page last updated: Monday, 17-Nov-2025 17:00:40 PST

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