Photographer: J. Griffis Smith

El Paso’s Lower Valley is site of graceful Spanish missions older than the better-known missions of California. 915/534-0677. Open daily during daylight hours, tour mapped by El Paso Convention & Visitors Bureau includes the following:

Nuestra Señora del Carmen, was established in 1681, and later dedicated Corpus Christi de la Ysleta, 1690; damaged by both floods and fires, but restored and maintained in original style and now familiarly called Ysleta Mission. Oldest mission in Texas, established for Tigua Indians. When founded, the mission pueblo was south of the Rio Grande, but has been left on the Texas side by changes in the river channel. Some mission land has been in constant cultivation since 1682, more than 300 years. 100 block of Old Pueblo Rd. (Zaragosa exit from I-10 east).

Nuestra Señora de la Concepción del Socorro was established in 1682 as mission for Piros, Thanos, and Jemes Indians. Originally located about 12 leagues from Guadalupe Mission at Paso del Norte and about 7.5 leagues from Ysleta. However, when a group of Indians threatened to revolt, mission moved to new location about one league from Ysleta Mission. Early 19th-century flood changed course of Rio Grande and left village and mission on Texas side. Present village of Socorro adjacent to southeast El Paso, F.M. 258 south.

San Elizario Presidio Chapel was founded 1777 to serve Spanish military garrison and government. Still in daily use, chapel stands as built 200 years ago, preserving a type of architecture that supplanted more austere styles of Ysleta and Socorro missions. Village of San Elizario served as El Paso County seat for years and was location of a presidio (fort) of the same name. F.M. 258 south.