Los Adaes, the symbol of New Spain in Louisiana, was once the capital of Texas and the scene of a unique cooperation among the French, the Spanish and the indigenous Native Americans.
Los Adaes dates back to the early 1700s when a Franciscan missionary from New Spain (now Mexico), Father Francisco Hidalgo, urged the French governor of Louisiana to establish a post near east Texas. The founding of Natchitoches in 1714 by the Frenchman St.Denis and the subsequent construction there of Fort St. Jean Baptiste had the predicted effect. The easternmost of the missions, San Miguel, was built among the Adaes Indians, only 15 miles from the French Fort St. Jean Baptiste. In 1729, Spain designated Los Adaes the capital of the province of Texas. The French took advantage of supply shortages at Los Adaes, and an illicit trade soon flourished between the two posts. The Indians traded with both sides and this commerce became so important that Natchitoches suffered a recession when Los Adaes closed in 1773.
An area rich in archaeological finds, it thrives today as one of Louisiana’s most intriguing state Historic Sites. The 14-acre site located on the “El Camino Real” near Natchitoches features the remains of a Spanish fort built in the 1700s to protect Texas from the French. It is a major archaeological site and offers interpretive programs.
We hope that you’ll include a visit to Los Adaes State Historic Site in your Natchitoches visit to further understand and appreciate the customs and cultures of the early inhabitants of the Natchitoches area.
Los Adaes State Historic Site is located in the Natchitoches area, one mile northeast of Robeline, Louisiana, between Fort Jesup SHS and Fort St. Jean Baptiste SHS. From I-49, exit onto LA 6 west. Turn right onto LA 485 and follow the signs.
Open Wednesday-Saturday, 12 – 4 pm.
FAQs
What was the importance of Los Adaes? ›
Los Adaes, the symbol of New Spain in Louisiana, was once the capital of Texas and the scene of a unique cooperation among the French, the Spanish and the indigenous Native Americans. An area rich in archaeological finds, it thrives today as one of Louisiana's most intriguing state Historic Sites.
What happened at Los Adaes? ›Both inspections recommended closure of the facilities at Los Adaes. The governor moved his residence to San Antonio in 1768, and the capital was officially moved to San Antonio in 1770. The order was given to close Los Adaes in 1772, and in 1773 the fort and mission were abandoned.
What was unusual about the location of the Los Adaes mission? ›Los Adaes was placed a mere 13 miles west of Natchitoches, the French fort and trade center on the Red River established in 1713. Ironically, had it not been for the nearby French, the Spanish would never have been able to survive.
What is Natchitoches, Louisiana famous for? ›Natchitoches, well known for the filming of Steel Magnolias, is also known as the “City of Lights”.
When was Los Adaes built? ›| Location | Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, USA |
| Nearest city | Robeline, Louisiana |
| Built | 1721 |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001427 (original) 93001622 (increase) |
| Significant dates | |
|---|---|
French soldiers from Natchitoches attacked the first Los Adaes mission in 1719, forcing its closing. Two years later, Spain built a new mission in another location less than two miles east of the earlier one.
Who lived in the Spanish mission at Los Adaes? ›The soldiers and settlers who came to be known as Adaeseños were mostly poor peasants of mixed ethnicity and low social status. Through time the community grew, as many soldiers had sizable families and stayed at Los Adaes when they retired from the military.
What were the Spanish missions in Louisiana? ›The Spanish missions in Louisiana were religious outposts in Spanish Louisiana (La Luisiana) region of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, located within the present-day U.S. states of Louisiana and East Texas. They were established by Spanish missionaries for Indian Reductions of the local Native Americans.
What is the royal highway that connects San Juan Bautista in Mexico to Los Adaes in Louisiana called? ›The El Camino Real de los Tejas was the first interstate highway in Texas connecting Los Adaes near present-day Robeline, Louisiana to near San Juan Bautista mission and presidio at today's Guerrero, Coahuila, Mexico.
What was the most famous mission in San Antonio nicknamed ____________? ›Uncover 300 years of history at the Alamo, an awe-inspiring story that's more intriguing than you might imagine. Established in 1718 as Mission San Antonio de Valero, the former mission now known as the Alamo has been a crossroads of history.
What present day state would the settlement of Los Adaes 1st capital of Spanish Texas be in today? ›
And a settlement called Los Adaes served as the capital of Spanish Texas – in an area that is now a state park in Louisiana.
What town became the most important in the era of the missions in Texas? ›One base for Spanish missionary and military operations in Texas developed around San Antonio. Two missions and a presidio were established in the San Antonio River valley between 1718 and 1720, and the Spanish added three new missions in the valley in 1731.
What John Wayne movie was filmed in Natchitoches Louisiana? ›The Horse Soldiers – 1959
John Wayne, William Holden, Constance Towers star in this 1863, fact-based story about a Union mission to destroy a railroad junction deep within Confederate territory.
First founded as a trading post in 1714 by French settlers, Natchitoches is Louisiana's oldest permanent settlement—even older than New Orleans.
What is the oldest City in Louisiana? ›Discover the charm of historic Natchitoches (Nack-a-tish), Louisiana, the oldest settlement in the Louisiana Purchase. Established in 1714, Natchitoches retains its European flavor through its architecture, heritage, and lifestyle.
What was the importance of San Antonio in Texas during the Spanish colonial time? ›Spain's primary goals in establishing a settlement in San Antonio were to provide travelers “an intermediate point on the long route between… [the missions]…in eastern Texas and those on the Rio Grande” and to provide defense “against any further French designs on the Matagorda Bay region” (Hoffman 1935: 4).
What was the importance of the fighting in the Far West? ›In addition, slavery was legal in Indian Territory, and some Native Americans who were slaveholders supported the Confederacy. What was the importance of the fighting in the Far West? Fighting in the Far West was important as both sides sought to expand their influence.
What was the most important issue being dealt with in the Republic of Texas? ›When Texas emerged as an independent republic (1836-1845), the new nation faced tremendous challenges: the nation was deeply in debt and Mexico, refusing to recognize Texas independence, threated to reconquer the region. The United States had also refused Texas's request to be annexed to the United States.
What was the most important event that happened for the Republic of Texas in 1845? ›On December 27, 1845, U.S. President James K. Polk signed the annexation bill into law and formally recognized Texas as the 28th state of the Union.