Clague Van Slyke and Craig Reid will discuss the history of Mission San Xavier del Bac and their efforts to restore the Mission known as the White Dove of the Desert, one of the most iconic mission churches in the U.S. Southwest often described as the finest example of Mexican baroque art and architecture in the United States. The mission was founded by Padre Eusebio Kino in 1692 and the church built a century later as a collaboration between Franciscan friars and the surrounding indigenous community. The presentation will touch on the 10,000 year history of indigenous in-habitation of the area, the geopolitical forces that shaped the area and the blending of cultural traditions that continue to this day.

The Hispanic Research Center and Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Arizona State University are pleased to co-sponsor this event.