Mission San Xavier del Bac

The kids in front of the Mission

South of Tucson sits the striking Mission San Xavier del Bac. Also known as "The White Dove of the Desert" for its brilliant white washed exterior paint and domes, the church was built by Spanish Franciscans in the late 18th century and blends Moorish, Byzantine and Spanish Renaissance styles in its architecture and interior design.

San Xavier del Bac was founded as a Catholic mission by Father Eusebio Kino in 1692. The construction of the current church began in 1783 and was completed 14 years later. It is considered a National Historic Landmark.

The Mission was created to serve the needs of the local community here, the village of Wa:k (San Xavier District) on the Tohono O'odham reservation, as it still does today.

Inside the church

There is no admission charge to visit Mission San Xavier. Some 200,000 visitors come each year from all over the world to view what is widely considered to be the finest example of Spanish Colonial architecture in the United States.

Mom, Joyce and the White Dove of the Desert

Church's courtyard