Fray Garcia De San Francisco - El Paso, Texas

Fray Garcia De San Francisco - El Paso, Texas - Artist places clay rosary beads next to the crucifix. The Crucifix's design is from a 16th century small Franciscan gold cross salvaged from a Caribbean shipwreck. MONUMENTAL FACTS: ·The 14-foot high bronze is more than twice a person's height and eight times the volume. • Hollow bronze (like a chocolate Easter bunny), with quarter-inch- thick bronze walls and steel reinforcement, and weighs 1 1/2 tons. • The monument was enlarged in a year from the 31-inch high model to the 14-foot high enlargement and took 5 months to cast in bronze. • The statue's molten bronze, when poured, was hotter than lava - 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit. • The mission grapes are about the size of goose eggs. • Garcia's rosary has 80 beads, each about the size of a golf ball. • Fray Garda's nose is 5-inches long. • Franciscan sandals are size 25EEEE.

Area: Central / Downtown

Source: Jody Polk Schwartz

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History

Fray Garcia De San Francisco - El Paso, Texas

On September 26, 1996, Houser installed in downtown El Paso, a 14' monument to Fray García de San Francisco, first in the XII Travelers series. "FRAY GARCIA DE SAN FRANCISCO, FOUNDER OF THE PASS OF THE NORTH, 1659" By Sculptor John Houser- Pioneer Plaza- El Paso Texas When El Pasoans walk, they celebrate the endurance of the Franciscan friars and the Native Americans who long ago tra­ versed on foot the vast Southwestern landscape. Fray Garcia founded Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission at the Pass of the North in 1659 (EI Paso, Texas and Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua). The little community became an important settlement on the Camino Real de Adentro (Royal Road of the Interior) that linked Mexico City to Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Area: Central / Downtown

Source: Jody Polk Schwartz

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History

Fray Garcia Monument - John Sherrill Houser - El Paso, Texas

Fray Garcia Monument - John Sherrill Houser - El Paso, Texas - 1996 The XII Travelers board is grateful to the City of El Paso and to the many gen­erous donors, including the El Paso Community Foundation and the Robert E. and Evelyn McKee Foundation that assisted the creation of the Fray Garcia Monument to enhance the quality of life of our community and to celebrate its rich history. The Fray Garcia Monument, the first statue in the XII Travelers series, was created by sculptor John Sherrill Houser and was dedicated in 1996. Fray Garcia holds the lintel beam for the Guadalupe Mission and beckons to the region's Manso and Suma Indians to join him in building the church, which today is the histori­cal treasure in downtown Cd. Juarez, El Paso's sister city. The beam is inscribed with the name of the mission and the year of its founding, 1659. Spanish and Indian craftsmen carved the ceil­ing beams with floral designs, which are resplendent today. At Fray Garcia's feet is an Indian basket laden with the Mission Grape. He introduced Christianity and European agriculture and livestock to the region. The Guadalupe medallion hangs from his neck, and at his waist are the Franciscan crucifix and rosary. XII TRAVELERS BOARD The XII Travelers nonprofit board assists project promotion and fundraising. The memorial's development represents a successful partnership between the board, city, private sector and philanthropic organizations.

Area: Central / Downtown

Source: Jody Polk Schwartz

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History

Fray Garcia De San Francisco - El Paso, Texas

Fray Garcia De San Francisco - El Paso, Texas - " The Mission Grape" From the Fray Grada Monument. MONUMENTAL FACTS The 14-foot high bronze is more than twice a person's height and eight times the volume. • Hollow bronze (like a chocolate Easter bunny), with quarter-inch- thick bronze walls and steel reinforcement, and weighs 1 1/2 tons. • The monument was enlarged in a year from the 31-inch high model to the 14-foot high enlargement and took 5 months to cast in bronze. • The statue's molten bronze, when poured, was hotter than lava - 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit. • The mission grapes are about the size of goose eggs. • Garcia's rosary has 80 beads, each about the size of a golf ball. • Fray Garda's nose is 5-inches long. • Franciscan sandals are size 25EEEE.

Area: Central / Downtown

Source: Jody Polk Schwartz

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History