Texas History

By llewetyl000
  • Nov 5, 1492

    Columbus

    Began Eouropean exploration in the Americas
  • Nov 5, 1519

    Pineda

    Mapped the Texas coastline
  • Nov 5, 1528

    Cabeza De Vaca

    Traveled Texas for 7 years and wrote a book about his travels
  • Nov 5, 1540

    Cornado

    Searched for the 7 cities of gold, but found nothing
  • Nov 5, 1542

    Moscoso

    Found petroleum in East Texas

  • Onate

    Claimed the Rio Grande Valley for Spain

  • Mission Corpus Christi de la Ysleta

    is located along the Rio Grande, just east of present-day El Paso. The mission was built among the Tigua people in 1682. Shortly after the mission was built, 21 Spanish families moved to the area to meet the spiritual needs of the Tigua people.

  • La Salle

    Built Fort St. Louis on Matagorda Bay

  • Mission San Francisco de los Tejas

    was established in May of 1690, and was the first mission founded in east Texas. Spain had learned that La Salle had been in the area and built Fort St. Louis. They feared that even though La Salle’s settlement had failed, France would send another group of settlers to try again. Mission San Francisco de los Tejas was built among the Atakapan people who were more interested in stealing horses than going to church. The mission site was located just west of the Neches River

  • Mission Santisimo Nombre de Maria

    was the second mission founded in east Texas along the Neches River around August 1690. This mission was completely destroyed by flooding from the Neches River. It was located just North and East of Mission San Francisco de los Tejas, on the opposite side of the river.

  • Mission Nuestra Senora de la Concepción de Acuna

    was established on April 10, 1722, along the Matagorda Bay of the Guadalupe River. The mission was built to serve the Karankawa indians and to reinforce the Spanish presence in the area to help keep the French out of Texas. The mission and the presidio that was built nearby became known as La Bahia Mission, and is one of the oldest and most successful missions in Texas.

  • Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe de los Nacogdoches

    was originally built in East Texas to protect the Spanish owned territory from the French on July 7, 1716. After a rough beginning and several moves, the mission was permanently moved to San Antonio in 1731, becoming the third in a chain of five missions established along the San Antonio River. From the beginning the priests at Mission Concepcion tried to replace Indian ceremonies with religious festivals that taught the Indians about Christianity. This mission is located between the Alamo a

  • Mission San Antonio de Valero

    was the first in a chain of five missions established near San Antonio on May 1, 1718. The mission was located on the east bank of the San Antonio River. During the 1730s and 1740s, the mission suffered from repeated attacks by the hostile Apache indians. In 1739, the Indians of the mission were almost completely wiped out by an epidemic of smallpox. After the mission closed in 1793, the buildings were used by several military groups as a hospital, a jail, soldier quarters, and to store mili

  • Mission San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo

  • Mission Nuestra Senora del Espíritu Santo de Zuniga

    was established on April 10, 1722, along the Matagorda Bay of the Guadalupe River. The mission was built to serve the Karankawa indians and to reinforce the Spanish presence in the area to help keep the French out of Texas. The mission and the presidio that was built nearby became known as La Bahia Mission, and is one of the oldest and most successful missions in Texas.

  • Mission San Juan Capistrano

    made its permanent home near San Antonio on July 14, 1731, becoming the fourth in a chain of missions along the San Antonio River. Within a few years, San Juan became a successful mission with rich farmland, orchards, and gardens. By 1762, the Indians living in the mission village were raising more than 3,000 head of sheep and cattle. They were growing enough pumpkins, grapes, and peppers to supply other communities with fresh vegetables. Mission San Juan is located directly east of Mission

  • Mission San Francisco de la Espada

    was originally located in east Texas with the name San Francisco de los Tejas. The mission was renamed and move to the San Antonio area in 1731, becoming the fifth mission in the chain of missions along the San Antonio River. Indians at Mission Espada were taught masonry and carpentry by Spanish craftsmen. These skills helped the Indians survive in Texas long after the missions were closed. Mission Espada is located due South of Mission San Juan.

  • San Xavier missions

    were founded along the San Xavier River between in December of 1747. Conflict with the local garrison commander led to relocation of the missions to a site on the San Marcos River in 1755. The missions closed the following year.

  • Santa Cruz de San Saba

    was established in 1757. It was attacked and destroyed in a revolt by Indians less than a year later.

  • Nuestra Senora del Refugio

    was established in 1793, and was the last Spanish mission founded in Texas. It was abandoned in 1830. Later, Irish immigrants to the area named their settlement after the mission.