Original Mission Refugio
Calhoun County, Calhoun County, Texas
Marker Inscription
In 1791, Spaniard priests Manuel de Silva and Joseph Francisco Mariano Garza endeavored to spread the doctrines of Christianity among the native tribes along the Gulf Coast, now called Karankawa, with the added benefit of giving Spain a foothold in the frontier land. Establishing a truce of friendship among the Coastal Indians, Garza tried to convince some to join the Mission of Rosario, but not wanting to leave their land, the Indians asked for the establishment of a mission at the mouth of the Guadalupe river, in the heart of Karankawa country. This was a place of protection when they were too closely pressed by their enemies. The site was already known as El Paraje del Refugio (the place of refuge) and inspired by this, Father Silva gave the future mission the title of Nuestra Señora del Refugio (our lady of refuge). On February 4, 1793, the mission was formally dedicated. While the mission began with 138 recruits, many were reluctant and those who remained out of the mission were antagonistic and sometimes hostile and dangerous. The Mission of Refugio remained at its location until April of 1794. During that month, Chief Fresada Pinta and his tribe raided and virtually destroyed the establishment. The mission was eventually moved to the Rancho de los Mosquitos, on the southwest side of the Guadalupe River in what is now Refugio County. In January of 1795, it was moved further up the mission river to the current townsite of Refugio. The mission was used until 1830 when it was secularized and abandoned. Mission Refugio signifies the end of an era, as it was the last Spanish mission built in Texas.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
In the early 1790s, Spanish priests sought to plant a mission among the Karankawa of the Gulf Coast, both to spread Christianity and to strengthen Spain's grip on the frontier. Dedicated in 1793 as Nuestra Señora del Refugio—"our lady of refuge"—the mission stood in the heart of Karankawa country but drew reluctant, sometimes hostile recruits. After a raid nearly destroyed it in 1794, it was relocated up the river, becoming the last Spanish mission ever founded in Texas.
Why it matters
As the final link in Spain's centuries-long mission system, Refugio marks the closing chapter of Spanish colonial ambition in Texas and the fraught encounter between missionaries and the coastal Karankawa.
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Related people
- · Manuel de Silva
- · Joseph Francisco Mariano Garza
- · Chief Fresada Pinta
Themes & tags
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