Mission Tejas State Park

Tejas Mission
The CCC built replica of Mission Tejas.
Location	Houston County, Texas
Nearest city	Crockett
Coordinates	31°32′54.3624″N 95°14′25.2852″W / 31.548434000°N 95.240357000°W / 31.548434000; -95.240357000Coordinates: 31°32′54.3624″N 95°14′25.2852″W / 31.548434000°N 95.240357000°W / 31.548434000; -95.240357000
Area	660 acres (270 ha)
Established	1957
Governing body	Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Mission Tejas State Park is a 660-acre (270 ha) state park located along Texas State Highway 21 in Houston County, Texas, originally constructed in 1935 and transferred to Texas Parks and Wildlife in 1957. The closest major town is Crockett, Texas. The park is open year round.

Overview

Mission Tejas State Park contains several historic resources of East Texas and provides recreation for visitors. The park contains a commemorative replica of the first Spanish mission in Texas and one of the oldest surviving structures in Houston County. The park also contains a segment of the El Camino Real de los Tejas. The park provides 15 developed campsites and 2 primitive camping sites. A small pond allows visitors to fish. The park also contains approximately 4.5 miles of hiking trails.

History

The land for Mission Tejas State Park was purchased with contributions from the local community. Following the discovery of some Spanish artifacts in the area and an increased interest in finding the original location of Mission San Francisco de los Tejas, the local community sought to preserve this history. Believing this tract of land to have been the site of the original mission, the land was purchased and gifted to the State of Texas. Mission Tejas State Park was originally constructed from 1934 to 1935 by Company 888 of the Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC constructed the park road, camping loop, a fire watch tower, and the original trails. The park was constructed to be a part of the Texas Forest Service. It remained within the Texas Forest Service until 1957 when it was transferred to Texas Parks and Wildlife and renamed Mission Tejas State Park.

Pre-European History

The area which now makes up the park is part of the historic settlement range of the Nabedache (or Tejas) Indians, part of the Caddo nation. The park lies just six miles from Caddo Mounds State Historic Site. The natives lived in villages stretched along San Pedro Creek and the Neches River. The park contains several known Caddo sites, but their location is not available to the public so that they may remain undisturbed.

Spanish Mission

Mission San Francisco de los Tejas was established May 23, 1690 by Captain Alonzo de Leon and Father Massanet of the Franciscan Order. The Spanish spent three days building a church and small living quarters among the Tejas villages along San Pedro Creek. Another mission, Mission Santissimo Nombre de Maria, was established along the Neches River the same year.

Mission San Francisco de los Tejas was abandoned on October 25, 1693. The actions of Spanish soldiers increased tensions among the Tejas. Crops also failed for two successive seasons. An epidemic then swept through the Tejas and killed many natives and one Spanish missionary. These events led to increased hostility and superstition among the Tejas. Fearing for their safety, the Spanish decided to leave the area. They buried the mission's bells and heavy items, set the mission on fire, and fled for San Antonio. The missions in this area were not reestablished for several years. The exact location of San Francisco de los Tejas is still undetermined, but many have searched for it. Due to the fire, time, and natural deterioration, it is difficult to determine the exact location. However, the park contains a commemorative example of the mission.^[1]

Anglo Settlement

In the 1820s, Anglo Settlement of the area began in earnest. Within the park this is represented by the Rice Family Log Home. Originally constructed in 1828, the home was added onto twice. The final addition was completed in 1838. This home was built from local lumber and constructed by hand. The Rice family came to Texas with a land grant from the Spanish Government, honored by the Mexican government. The home contains original wallpaper and paint from the 1890s, and is still approximately 80% original. The home was lived in until approximately 1918 when it was turned into a storage building. It was donated to the state and moved to the park in 1974. The log home is a popular attraction for school groups and visitors interested in early Texas history. It is perhaps the oldest surviving structure in Houston County.

El Camino Real

The park contains an original segment of the El Camino Real de los Tejas. This historic route ran from Natchitoches, Louisiana to San Antonio. It was the predominant overland route across Texas for several centuries. The Rice Family Log Home within the park served as an inn along this route for travelers. Visitors to the park can still see the ruts created by carts along the path.

Civilian Conservation Corps

Company 888 of the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed this park from 1934-1935. The camp was located on a tract one mile from the park's current location. They constructed a dam and spillway, creating a small pond. They also constructed a fire watchtower, campsites, trails, and the park road. Lost until the 1980s, the park contains a natural spring-fed bathtub constructed by the CCC men. Utilizing a natural spring and the slope of the land, the CCC men bricked up the spring, and created two more tubs downhill. They would rinse in one tub, and wash in the other. Company 888 built the commemorative example of the Mission San Francisco de los Tejas. According to local legend, the floor stones of the replica are possibly the original floor stones of the original mission, but this is unlikely.

Natural Features

The park is located on the northern end of Davy Crockett National Forest within the Piney Woods of East Texas. The dominant tree species within the park is loblolly pine. Following massive clear cutting during the early 20th century, the CCC replanted much of the area, including the trees within the park. There are not many trees within the park more than eighty years old. The park contains abundant wildlife including squirrels, rabbits, foxes, and deer. Several species of bird are also present. Flora includes pine, oak, and other plants typical of the Piney Woods.

Recreational Opportunities

The park has several different recreational opportunities. Popular activities include hiking, nature viewing, geocaching, fishing and camping. The park has several different types of campsites, from water only tent sites to full hook up RV campsites. In total there are 15 developed sites, and 2 primitive sites. A variety of trails are available ranging from easily accessible to steep and narrow. Park staff also present educational and interpretive programs each week and also teach outdoor activities and skills. Each April, the park holds a Folk Festival including historical reenactment and demonstrations of pioneer skills and activities.

References

↑ Woldert, Albert. "The Location of the Tejas Indian Village (San Pedro) and the Spanish Missions in Houston County, Texas". Southwestern Historical Quarterly Online 38 (3). Retrieved July 30, 2010.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mission Tejas State Park.

"Mission Tejas State Park," Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Protected areas of Texas

Federal

National Parks	Big Bend Guadalupe Mountains

National Monuments and Memorials	Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument Chamizal National Memorial Waco Mammoth National Monument

National Historical Parks and Historic Sites	Fort Davis NHS Lyndon B. Johnson NHP Palo Alto Battlefield NHP San Antonio Missions NHP

National Historic Trails	El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

National Recreation Areas	Amistad Lake Meredith

National Wildlife Refuges	Anahuac Aransas Attwater Prairie Chicken Balcones Canyonlands Big Boggy Brazoria Buffalo Lake Caddo Lake Grulla Hagerman Laguna Atascosa Lower Rio Grande Valley McFaddin Muleshoe Neches River San Bernard Santa Ana Texas Point Trinity River

National Forests	Angelina Davy Crockett Sabine Sam Houston

National Grasslands	Caddo Lyndon B. Johnson McClellan Creek Rita Blanca

Other Protected Areas	Big Thicket National Preserve Padre Island National Seashore Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River

State

State Parks and Natural Areas	Abilene Atlanta Balmorhea Barton Warnock Environmental Education Center Bastrop Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley Big Bend Ranch Big Spring Blanco Boca Chica Bonham Brazos Bend Buescher Caddo Lake Caprock Canyons Cedar Hill Choke Canyon Cleburne Colorado Bend Cooper Lake Copper Breaks Daingerfield Davis Mountains Devils River State Natural Area Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area Dinosaur Valley Eisenhower Enchanted Rock State Natural Area Estero Llano Grande Fairfield Lake Falcon Fort Boggy Fort Parker State Park Fort Richardson State Park Franklin Mountains Galveston Island Garner Goliad Goose Island Government Canyon State Natural Area Guadalupe River Hill Country State Natural Area Honey Creek State Natural Area Huntsville Indian Lodge Inks Lake Kickapoo Cavern Lake Arrowhead Lake Bob Sandlin Lake Brownwood Lake Casa Blanca International Lake Colorado City Lake Corpus Christi Lake Livingston Lake Mineral Wells Lake Somerville Lake Tawakoni Lake Texana Lake Whitney Lockhart Longhorn Cavern Lost Maples State Natural Area Martin Creek Lake Martin Dies, Jr. Matagorda Island McKinney Falls Meridian Mission Tejas Monahans Sandhills Mother Neff State Park Mustang Island Old Tunnel Palmetto Palo Duro Canyon Pedernales Falls Possum Kingdom Purtis Creek Ray Roberts Lake Resaca de la Palma San Angelo Sea Rim Sheldon Lake South Llano River Stephen F. Austin Tyler Village Creek Walter Umphrey Wyler Aerial Tramway

State Historic Sites	Acton Admiral Nimitz Barrington Living History Farm at Washington-on-the-Brazos Battleship TEXAS Caddoan Mounds Casa Navarro Confederate Reunion Grounds Eisenhower Birthplace Fanthorp Inn Fannin Battleground Fort Griffin Fort Lancaster Fort Leaton Fort McKavett Fort Richardson State Park Fulton Mansion Goliad Hueco Tanks Kreische Brewery Landmark Inn Levi Jordan Plantation Lipantitlan Lyndon B. Johnson Magoffin Homestead Mission Espiritu Santo Mission Rosario Monument Hill Penn Farm Point Isabel Lighthouse Sabine Pass Battleground Sam Bell Maxey House Samuel T. Rayburn House San Felipe San Jacinto Battleground Sauer-Beckmann Farm Seminole Canyon Starr Family Home Varner–Hogg Plantation Washington-on-the-Brazos Zaragoza Birthplace

State Forests and Arboretums	E.O. Siecke I.D. Fairchild John Henry Kirby Masterson W. Goodrich Jones Ruth Bowling Nichols Arboretum Olive Scott Petty Arboretum

State Wildlife Trails	Great Texas Coastal Heart of Texas Panhandle Plains Prairies and Pineywoods

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

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