A Sense of Mission: Historic Churches of the Southwest

by Thomas A. Drain (Text)

Visually beautiful and historically important, the Spanish missions of the United States are a unique legacy of two very different cultures. Conceived as an expression of the Catholic faith of the European conquerors, they were built and maintained by native Americans, who incorporated their own traditions. A Sense of Mission presents 29 of these fascinating and popular churches in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and Southern California. More than 150 color photographs feature dramatic exteriors and grounds, altarpieces, statues, carvings, frescoes, and other folk details. The text explores the history of the missions, how they were built, and the meaning behind their symbols, while an introduction by N. Scott Momaday lends insight from the Native American perspective. Visitor information, maps, and an annotated reading list round out this handsome, authoritative guide of more than a decade.

Genres: Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed a book to give me some history on some of the missions in CA and this one was a good start. It not only gave some history but also provided photos of the churches and grounds and a map so I could see how far apart the missions are from one another.