Special to The Leader

AUSTIN, Texas—The Texas Historical Commission (THC) voted on January 29 to accept the Mission Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de los Ais (Mission Dolores) property in San Augustine as a Texas State Historic Site.
Mission Dolores was a Spanish mission first built in 1717 and reestablished in 1721 in what is now San Augustine County, just 20 miles west of the Texas-Louisiana border. The site tells an important history about the Native American experience with Texas’ earliest European settlers. Today, there are no historic above-ground remains of the mission. The mission site has been confirmed by archeological investigations and historical records. A museum and research laboratory are associated with the property.
As part of the Historic Sites Program, Mission Dolores will benefit from THC staff expertise in archeology, history education, and historic preservation. The site’s RV park provides a tremendous opportunity to build dynamic programs to serve families statewide.
An important addition to the State of Texas’ historic treasures, Mission Dolores is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated State Antiquities Landmark. El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail also passes through the property. Visitors can explore the site’s history at the museum, where interpretive displays tell the story of Mission Dolores. The property also has a campground, picnic area, and group pavilions. For more information on the THC’s state historic sites, visit www.texashistoricsites.com.