Mission Nuestra Señora del Rosario explained

Building Name:Mission Nuestra Señora del Rosario
Map Type:Texas#USA
Map Relief:yes
Location:Goliad County, Texas
United States
Coordinates:28.6444°N -97.4389°W
Religious Affiliation:Roman Catholic
Architecture:yes
Architecture Style:Spanish Colonial
Established:1754
Specifications:yes
Materials:stone and mortar
Nrhp:yes
Added:September 22, 1972
Refnum:72001363

Mission Nuestra Señora del Rosario de los Cujanes was established in November 1754 by Spanish Franciscan missionary Father Juan de Dios Camberos to bring Christianity to the indigenous Karankawa people. At its peak, the mission owned a herd of 5,000 cattle, but mismanagement, lack of administrative support and resistance from the Karankawa led to the gradual decline of the mission.

At the mission, the Karankawa were expected to adhere to a schedule of religious instruction, technical education and manual labor, however, few Karankawa would abandon their religion and culture and left the mission.

The architectural details of Mission Rosario are lost, but archaeologists believe the building consisted of a chapel, sacristy, bell tower and residence. Soldiers from nearby Presidio La Bahía most likely guarded the mission to protect it from threats.