The Spanish Mission Route

The Spanish Mission Route refers to a series of religious and cultural outposts established by Spanish explorers and missionaries in the Americas, primarily during the 16th to 18th centuries. These missions aimed to spread Christianity among Indigenous peoples and to secure Spanish territorial claims. Stretching from Mexico into parts of the southern United States, the route included notable missions such as San Antonio de Padua and San Diego de Alcalá. The missions often featured churches, farming lands, and communities, playing a crucial role in the cultural exchange between Spanish and Indigenous societies and shaping the region's history.