The Spanish Missions in New Mexico were a series of religious outposts in the Province of Santa Fe de Nuevo México — present day New Mexico. They were established by Franciscan friars under charter from the monarchs of the Spanish Empire and the government of the Viceroyalty of New Spain in a policy called Reductions to facilitate the conversion of Native Americans—Indians into Christianity.
They attempted to Hispanicize the indigenous peoples. The affected included the rich cultures and tribes of: many of the 21 distinct Puebloan groups; the Tiwa; the Navajo; and the Apache. The missions also aimed to pacify resistance to the European invasion of the tribes' Pre-Columbian homelands and loss of traditions. The missions introduced European livestock, fruits, vegetables, and small-scale industry into the Southwest region. They also introduced European diseases that the native people had no immunity against.
Fray Marcos de Niza, sent by Coronado, first saw the area now known as New Mexico in 1539. The first permanent settlement was Mission San Gabriel, founded in 1598 by Juan de Oñate near what is now known as the San Juan Pueblo.
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Zia
Mission Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Porciúncula de los Pecos founded in the 17th century, ruins are part of the Pecos National Historical Park
Mission Nuestra Señora de Purísima Concepción de Quarai founded in the 17th century, ruins are part of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
Mission San Agustín de la Isleta - Built in 1612. See also Isleta Pueblo
Mission San Buenaventura de Cochiti - Completed in 1628, renovated in the 1960s. See also Cochiti Pueblo
Mission San Esteban del Rey de Acoma - Established 1629 and completed in 1641, in continuous use since. — see also Acoma Pueblo.
Mission San Felipe - Built on the site of a previous church (1706)
Mission San Gregorio de Abó - Established in 1640 by Fray Francisco Acevedo. Ruins are now part of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument.
Mission San Ildefonso - The original mission church was built in 1711, but was later destroyed.
Mission San Isidro and Mission San Buenaventura de Humanas (Gran Quivira) - the ruins are part of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
Mission San José de los Jémez - Established in 1621, now in ruins.
Mission Nuestra Señora de Perpetuo Socorro, today known as the Mission San Miguel - Established in 1598 by Fray Alfonso Benavidez and another Franciscan friar. San Miguel Mission Chapel is said to be the oldest church still in use in the United States.
Mission San José de Laguna - built in 1699. See also Laguna Pueblo
Mission San Lorenzo de Picurís—established circa 1620.
Mission Santa Ana - Completed in 1750.
Mission Santo Domingo - The original mission church was destroyed by flooding of the Rio Grande.
San Francisco de Asis Mission - Ranchos de Taos
San Miguel Mission - Santa Fe
Mission La Purisima Concepcíón de Hawikuh - Established in 1628, destroyed in 1680.
Mission Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe de Zuni - Still in use.
El Santuario de Chimayó - Site of an Easter pilgrimage by foot to this holy spot every year. Not a mission; founded c.1810 as a private chapel.
San Francisco de Asis Mission Church - Church built between 1772 and 1816 and is located in the historic district of Ranchos de Taos.
Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe - Founded c. 1777; believed to be nation's oldest shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Not a mission.
