Altar in Ysleta Mission, 1916

The image shows the altar of the Ysleta Mission in 1916. The Ysleta Mission is the oldest of the El Paso mission churches. The parish Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, of which the church is part, was established 1682, and the mission completed in 1692. The Spanish originally named the church Misión de Corpus Christi de Ysleta del Sur but it also has been known as Misión de San Antonio, in honor of the patron saint of the Tigua Indians who have worshiped at the parish since its beginnings and still do today. In 1744 the church had to be reconstructed due to a flood. The layout of the Ysleta Mission is an example of the New Mexican style of mission churches which were built during the 17th and 18th centuries, characterized by their linear, boxlike forms, with simplicity in their exterior decoration. Again, in 1907 it had to be partially re-built due to fire and the three-story tower was added.

Area: Mission Valley / Ysleta del Sur Pueblo

Collection: Gertrude Fitzgerald Photographs

Source: University of Texas at El Paso Library - Special Collections Department

Reference ID: PH025-1-1-234

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History