History of New Mexico / St. Augustine Catholic Church

Western Trips takes a visit to one of the most historic old Spanish churhes in New Mexico. Historic Saint Augustine Catholic Church, located at Isleta Pueblo has a fascinating past. The Isleta Pueblo is located about 15 miles south of Albuquerque and just west of Interstate 25. This is a large pueblo along the the Rio Grande as it winds it's way south. So many early settlements and Native American pueblos were established along the Rio Grande Valley. Pueblo cutltures are generally divided into Western Pueblo's and Eastern Pueblo's. Isleta Pueblo is among the Eastern Pueblos. Isleta Pueblo comprises a main village and two farm villages 3 miles to the south.

St. Augustin Catholic Church

St. Augustine was first named St. Anthony's in the year 1613. This would have been about five or so years after the establishment of Santa Fe. Spanish missions in New Mexico were really religious outposts established by the Franciscan friars. Like many Spanish missions during the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, the church was damage extensively. The origins of the Pueblo Revolt had their seeds in the subjugating of the local Indians. The Spaniards forced them to pay taxes in crops and forced them to work. In general, the Spaniards and their Franciscan missionaries attacked everything involved with the Indian's ancient religion. The Pueblo Revolt occurred when everything came to a boiling point. During the Pueblo revolt, most inhabitants of Isleta Pueblo fled to the Hopi area of northern Arizona and some joined the Spaniards in their retreat down the Rio Grande. Isleta Pueblo did not take a part in the revolt. It took the Spaniards twelve years to successfully return their rule over the land.

When the Spaniards successfully returned to Nuevo Mexico under deVargas in 1692, the ruins of the mission were found and a new church was completed on the site in 1716. Many missions were rebuilt during this period all over Nuevo Mexico. When the church was rebuilt in 1716 it was renamed St. Augustine. As of this writing, St. Augustine Catholic Church is nearly 400 years old and is considered by most historians as being one of the oldest churches in the United States.

St. Augustin, Isleta Pueblo

When you travel the southwest United States, and particularly New Mexico,there are a great number of missions that are historical landmarks and each one has it's own unique history. Today, some are in ruins and others like St. Augustine Catholic Church have been beautifully restored and rebuilt on their original sites. These are important historical sites not only for the pueblo inhabitants but for the nation as well.

Those touring California today are well aware of that region's history with Spanish missions. There are many beautiful missions to visit all the way from San Diego in the south to Sonoma California in the north. The Franciscan missions in New Mexico were built long before the first mission was built in San Diego in 1769. The pueblo Native American culture in New Mexico and Arizona was quite different than that found in Alta California. While there was some violence associated with the Franciscans and the Indians of California, nothing approached the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. Overall, the interaction between the missionaries in Alta California and the local Indian tribes was less restrictive than in 1600's Nuevo Mexico.

There was a restoration project involving St. Augustine Catholic Church which is quite interesting. Around 2004, there was a plan started for the restoration of the church. The initial plan reportedly called for the work to be done by volunteers including teens. There was really very little funding for the project but nevertheless the volunteers worked hard making adobe and persevered. Without funding, the restoration of the church and the final outcome was uncertain. The project received a major lifesaving boost when funding became available around 2010 when the church qualified as a cultural resource project. The restoration work on the church turned out extremely well as you can see from the photos shown in this article. Many people put in a lot of effort and the project was a huge success.

St. Augustin Mission grounds

You may be interested in a few additional articles we've published related to historic old Spanish missions in New Mexico. They include the San Felipe de Neri Church in Old Town Albuquerque and San Francisco de Asis Mission in Rancho de Taos.

The drive south of Albuquerque on Interstate 25 to Isleta Pueblo is quite scenic. There are also numerous other historic landmarks nearby. One is Belen New Mexico, just a short drive south of Isleta. Belen is home to a very interesting old Harvey House that was constructed in 1911. The Harvey House today is a great museum exhibiting many artifacts of the days of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. Belen  today is a very busy rail yard for the BNSF Railroad, being a major refueling point for freight trains between California and Texas. Belen also features a walking tour map that even features a Sears and Roebuck home that was shipped as a kit from Chicago just after the turn of the twentieth century.

Another transportation option to visit both Isleta Pueblo and Belen is the New Mexico Rail Runner train. The train operates between Santa Fe to the north and Belen to the south. The Albuquerque stop is at the Alvarado Transportation Center on Central Avenue in downtown Albuquerque.

(Photos from author's private collection)

Amarillo Texas / Texas Panhandle

Amarillo Texas, the largest city in the Texas Panhandle, owes it's early growth to both the cattle and the railroad industries. In addition to that, the city of Amarillo was on the highly popular old Route 66. Everything came together for Amarillo that translated to growth. The early cattle industry was all around Amarillo. This included the historic XIT Ranch which occupied over 3 million acres in the Panhandle as well as the JA Ranch, operated by Charles Goodnight, the Father of the Texas Panhandle. Add to this the fact that Amarillo was once referred to as the "Helium Capital of the World".

Paramount Theater Building, Amarillo Texas

Some may not realize that the National Helium Reserve, established in 1925, is located about twelve miles northwest of Amarillo. This is our nation's strategic helium reserve that reportedly holds over one billion cubic meters of helium gas.

Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle were traversed by many years before the town was created. Coronado's 1540 Spanish Expedition of the southwest crossed the high plains. The Comanche Indians roamed the area. In the latter 1800's the massive 3 million acre XIT Ranch, owned mostly by British investors, established itself in the Texas Panhandle and in return built the Texas state capitol building in Austin. In addition to the XIT, the latter 1800's saw the founding of Charles Goodnight's JA Ranch centered around Palo Duro Canyon, just to the southwest of present day Amarillo. Goodnight's home still exists in Goodnight Texas, a short drive east of Amarillo on US Hwy 287. The area where Amarillo sits today was at one time used by buffalo hunters for camping. The organization Amarillo, while being surrounded by ranches, was actually the result of the Fort Worth and Denver Railroad searching for a good watering spot. The site was chosen in 1887 and a year later was moved to the east on somewhat higher ground to reduce the threat of flooding. The history books name Henry B. Sanborn as the true "Father of Amarillo". Sanborn and his business partner, Joseph Glidden, bought up land in this area and lured other merchants there. The early business section was centered around Polk Street.

Amarillo's Polk Street mansions

Today, Polk Street is considered the entertainment section of old Amarillo. Today's Amarillo tourist can view beautiful mansions built by early merchants and professionals. The Bivens Mansion now houses the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce. Polk Street is also home to the historic Paramount Theater. Built in 1932, the Paramount Theater was the premiere theater in Amarillo. The theaters popularity lasted for decades until the 1970's when more modern cinemas were built and went out of the moving screening business during that decade. Eventually the Paramount structure was totally renovated and put to use as an office building.

Route 66 ran through Amarillo on Amarillo Blvd. Just as with many towns and cities where the old Mother Road traversed, the district today is alive and well. Most of today's Route 66 activity can be found on Amarillo Blvd and Sixth Avenue between Georgia and Western Streets. Antique shops and other interesting stores are found all along this mile long stretch and the Route 66 area is also home to many events during the year including the always fun classic car shows. When the highway system was laid out, mostly during the 1920's, Amarillo was fortunate to be located at a point where many highways intersected. Three major roads plus Route 66 all merged at Amarillo. US Hwy 287 is the main artery leading from the Dallas/Fort Worth area to the Texas Panhandle.

South Polk Street in Amarillo

Amarillo's economy today still has a lot to do with ranching and oil but also is in the middle of modern twenty first century industries. Early Amarillo had a lot to do with the railroads and shipping and today's modern Amarillo still does. The BNSF Railroad maintains a large yard in the city with freight trains. Trains from the east come from Oklahoma City and up from Fort Worth Texas. A good deal of the train traffic from the west are rail cars hauling coal from the Colorado and Wyoming mines. Amarillo's modern economy is made up of a combination of industries. If you're looking for things to do and see during your Amarillo trip, there are quite a few. Listed below are only a handful of side trips available.

Following are links to our articles regarding more historic side trips close to Amarillo... the Charles Goodnight Home in Goodnight Texas, the Armstrong County Museum in Claude Texas and a visit to beautiful Palo Duro Canyon. Another interesting stop east of Amarillo near the Oklahoma / Texas border is the singer / songwriter Roger Miller Museum in Erick Oklahoma right on old Route 66.

For the western road trip traveler flying by Amarillo on Interstate 40, a few fun stops include the Big Texan, a steakhouse, gift shop and entertainment center on the north side of the Interstate. The Big Texan is the home of the 72 ounce steak if you can eat it in one sitting. There's no way possible that you'll miss their billboards. The Big Texan has an adjacent motel and plenty of great western gift items.

Just a short distance west of Amarillo on the south side of Interstate 40 is Cadillac Ranch. What you'll see from the highway is a collection of old Cadillac automobiles buried front end down into the West Texas soil. Cadillac Ranch was put together in 1974 by Chip Lord, Hudson Marquez and Doug Michels. The three were part of  the art group Ant Farm. This west creation was originally built two miles to the east but was relocated in 1997. The site is on private land but you can park on a frontage road on the north side of the Interstate and access it by a walkway. Visitors can spray paint the vehicles using paint cans found at the site. The kids will love it but it's a good idea to ascertain the wind direction before spraying. The location is a little over one mile west of Hope Road and about eleven miles west of downtown Amarillo.

The Big Texan, Amarillo Texas

Another unique stop on your west Texas road trip is the American Quarter Horse Heritage Center and Museum located on the north side of Interstate 40 just west of the S. Grand St. exit. The American Quarter Horse Association is also located in an adjacent office building. Lots of great information on famous Quarter Horses and terrific artwork both inside and outside the museum building.

One more unique stop, and there are several others in Amarillo, is the English Field Air and Space Museum. The museum is located east of Amarillo. Directions to get there..turn to the north from Interstate 40 onto Lakeside Rd. (Loop 335) and then drive north for two miles. Make a right hand turn onto U.S. Highway 60 and drive two miles east. One thing you'll be able to view at this excellent museum is the only Mars Lander vehicle on earth.

(Photos are from author's private collection)