The History and Restoration of Mission San Xavier del Bac
Speakers Clague Van Slyke and Craig Reid will discuss the history of Mission San Xavier del Bac and their efforts to restore the Mission known as the White Dove of the Desert, the iconic mission church often described as the finest example of Mexican baroque art and architecture in the United States. Padre Eusebio Kino founded the mission in 1692 and the church was built a century later as a collaboration between Franciscan friars and the surrounding indigenous community. The presentation will touch on the 10,000-year history of indigenous inhabitation of the area, the geopolitical forces that shaped the area and the blending of cultural traditions that continue to this day.
This event is co-sponsored by the ASU Hispanic Research Center and the Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies.