Mission Dolores State Historic Site

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Mission Dolores State Historic Site Explore the history of the Spanish in East Texas as they interact with the Native Americans, French, and the environment of the Spanish Borderlands.

Mission Dolores was a Spanish mission built 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. 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. CONTENT GUIDELINES

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More than 50 years in the making, the Mission Dolores Living History Exhibit is almost ready! More than fifty years ago,...
11/03/2026

More than 50 years in the making, the Mission Dolores Living History Exhibit is almost ready! More than fifty years ago, archaeologists from Stephen F. Austin undertook excavations to confirm the location of and learn more about Mission Nuestra Senora de los Dolores de ls Ais. Today it remains the only one of the six 18th century East Texas missions to be excavated. Mission Dolores State Historical Site and the Friends of Mission Dolores have now constructed a new mission compound based on the information learned from those excavations and documents left by the Spanish.

Join us on November 14th from 1:00-3:00 pm as we open the doors to our new living history site for the first time. Enjoy free admission to the museum and guided tours during this historic event.

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Coming soon!!!  The Mission Dolores living history exhibit officially opens on November 14th.  Experience our 18th centu...
10/30/2026

Coming soon!!! The Mission Dolores living history exhibit officially opens on November 14th. Experience our 18th century chapel, priests' quarters, and soldiers' quarters. Free museum admission and tours during the event.

See https://thc.texas.gov/events/grand-opening-living-history-exhibit for more information.

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Good morning! Mission Dolores SHS is at the San Augustine Sassafras Festival. Come out and say hello. ;
10/24/2026

Good morning! Mission Dolores SHS is at the San Augustine Sassafras Festival. Come out and say hello.

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10/17/2026
During his visit of inspection to the East Texas Missions in 1768, Fray Gaspar José de Solís frequently remarked on the ...
10/13/2026

During his visit of inspection to the East Texas Missions in 1768, Fray Gaspar José de Solís frequently remarked on the abundant gnats, mites, ticks, spiders, and other pests he encountered on his journey. This female yellow garden spider, or Argiope aurantia, has temporarily taken up residence in our living history exhibit. Also known as a zigzag spider for the zigzag stabilimentum in the center of their web, these spiders live throughout the Americas. They are non-aggressive and only mildly venomous; their bite is described as similar to a bee sting, and their venom may have medicinal properties. Rest assured, she will be carefully relocated to the surrounding woods before the grand opening on November 14th.

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Today, Catholics commemorate the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi.  October 4th, 2026, marks the 800th anniversary of th...
10/04/2026

Today, Catholics commemorate the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. October 4th, 2026, marks the 800th anniversary of the death of Giovanni di Pietro Bernardone, known as Francis of Assisi. Born to a wealthy family of cloth merchants in 1181 or 1182, he chose a life of poverty and religious devotion as a young man. He later received approval from Pope Innocent III to establish the Order of Friars Minor, commonly called the Franciscan Order.

In 1673, Father Antonio Margil de Jesus joined the Franciscan Order in his hometown of Valencia, Spain. From there he embarked on a life of evangelization amongst the Indigenous peoples of New Spain. In 1716 he joined the Ramón expedition into East Texas where he and other Franciscan friars established six missions to proselytize to various Caddo bands in the area and help cement Spain’s claim to the territory. Margil personally founded Mission Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de los Nacogdoches, Mission San Miguel de Cuellar de los Adae, and Mission Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de los Ais where he took up residence. These missions remained under the control of the Franciscan Order until their closure in 1773.

Today, you can visit Mission Dolores State Historic Site in San Augustine, Texas and learn about Father Margil, the Franciscan Order, and life in Spanish Texas. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 am to 4:30 pm

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Painting of Saint Francis of Assisi by Phillip Fruytiers

No better way to start the day than with a delicious cup of coffee or tea! Handcrafted by Sunset Hill Stoneware, our Mis...
09/15/2026

No better way to start the day than with a delicious cup of coffee or tea! Handcrafted by Sunset Hill Stoneware, our Mission Dolores pottery mugs here are microwave safe, dishwasher safe, and very sturdy. Come by and get yours from the Mission Dolores gift shop for $29.99, located inside the site museum and open Tuesday thru Saturday from 8 AM to 4:30 PM.

Two more successful basket makers! Follow us here or check out thc.texas.gov for upcoming classes and events. ;
09/05/2026

Two more successful basket makers! Follow us here or check out thc.texas.gov for upcoming classes and events.

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Address

San Augustine, TX
75972

Opening Hours

Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm
Saturday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+19362753815

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