Mexico Road Trip Part 3

About 9 or 10 miles south of Tucson on Highway 19 the lands of the Tohono O'odham Nation begin. These Native Americans were once referred to as Papagayo's but in 1980 they officially changed their tribal name. On their land not to far off of Highway 19 stands a remarkable structure, The Mission San Xavier del Bac. This Mission was started by Father Kino in 1692 and has been continuously administered by Franciscan Fathers since the beginning. The construction of the present cathedral began in 1783 and was completed in 1797. Today it is still the fully functional spiritual locus of the local Catholic Parish community. Catholic Masses are celebrated seven days a week.
This structure is included in the National Register of Historic Places. If you are ever around Tucson, take a couple of hours and drive out into the beautiful Sonoran Desert and visit this wonderful place. 
The following is a picture tour of the mission. Tana and I took all the exterior shots. We were not allowed to take pictures inside so the interior photos were taken from the Internet. Please remember one thing as you look at these photos........there is no mention in the historical record of any designers, architects, engineers, or professional builders employed in the construction of this magnificent edifice......the local Indigenous People did everything inside and out under the direction of the good Fathers and, I'm sure you will agree, Divine Intervention.....!! 

The main entrance.....impressive, I'd say....

I think this structure might have been the parish mortuary.......

The choir loft............

This panorama shot off the Internet is really fuzzy but it gives you an idea of the beauty and magnificence of this place..!!!

Well, that's the tour of our visit in Tucson.....next stop Mexico...hope you'll come along with us...

until then....take care my friends....