Picture of the Day - 2/28/09

Today. we traveled south of Tucson to visit the San Xavier del Bac Mission (the "White Dove of the Desert"), which was originally constructed from 1783 to 1797. Claimed to be the finest example of mission architecture in the United States, it continues to be run by Franciscan Friers who serve the needs of the faithful. Why the second tower was never completed remains a mystery. The building is currently undergoing a massive renovation and the scaffolding was recently removed from the first tower (left side). About a month later, scaffolding will be erected around the second tower for the 2-3 years it will take to complete. We were very fortunate to be able to photograph the mission without the scaffolding in place! The building is constructed using local materials - fired bricks and sun-dried adobe blocks. Large volcanic from the surrounding hills reinforce the foundation. Plaster was made using sand, lime and prickly pear cactus juice. No wood was used in the construction, except for the lintels, balconies, shutters and doors.

Afterwards, we had a snack of Indian "fry bread" with powdered sugar from one of the many food stalls located in the front courtyard.

For more info: http://www.sanxaviermission.org/