Ysleta Mission
Also known as: Mission de Corpus Christi de la Ysleta
Why it's listed
Ysleta Mission, formally Mission de Corpus Christi de la Ysleta, is a Catholic church on US Highway 80 in Ysleta, Texas. It began in the 1680s as a refugee settlement for Tigua and other Pueblo Indians displaced from New Mexico, and the present church was built on its site in 1744. A fire in 1907, started when chemicals placed in the belfry to drive out bats ignited, destroyed most of the building. It was rebuilt quickly using the surviving sacristy and walls, so the size and shape resemble the eighteenth-century church. The main facade has a three-story tower with late Victorian wooden decoration, while the rear transept and sacristy show Spanish Colonial character. The mission is noted for serving the Tigua community without interruption since 1682. Tigua families still perform ritual dances in the plaza and keep the office of casique, a chief title dating from Spanish authority. Franciscans founded the mission, and the Jesuits have administered it since 1881.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mission is significant for its architecture and its long history, dating its Tigua Indian community to 1682. It is described as unique among the region's missions for having served the Tigua community continuously from its founding to the present. The Tigua still hold ritual dances in the plaza and keep a tribal civil organization, including the office of casique.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 72001360, listed July 31, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | U.S. 80 near jct. with Zaragosa Rd., Ysleta |
|---|---|
| County | El Paso County |
| Listed | July 31, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001360 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian facade decoration and late classical revival interior (1907), with a rear transept and sacristy showing Spanish Colonial mission influence |
| Areas of significance | Historic - Aboriginal, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and altered, on its original site; occupied and in religious use. Administered by the Jesuit Order since 1881. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 31.69107, -106.32766 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 72001360.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8059780
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.