11/12: Mission and Missile
Category: General
Posted by: The Agnew Family
San Xavier Mission was founded as a Catholic mission by Father Eusebio Kino in 1692. Construction of the current church began in 1783 and was completed in 1797.
The oldest intact European structure in Arizona, the church's interior is filled with marvelous original statuary and mural paintings. It is still an active church today.
San Xavier del Bac
Our tour leader was very passionate about the mission. One of the stories she told us was about the cat and the mouse. There are two spirals in the top of the middle section of the facade of the mission. On one spiral is a mouse, on the other spiral is a cat. It is said that if the cat ever catches the mouse, Armageddon is happening, ie. the mission has been destroyed.
The main alter in the mission. The mission is an interesting blend of traditional Catholic church and native north American beliefs. The Franciscans ran out of funds before the mission was completed causing the architects and artisans to depart leaving the local residents to complete the mission.
The mission is being restored to it's 1910 (or thereabouts) condition. A lot has been completed but there is still more to be done.
A view of the mission from a nearby hill.
Food stands were set up in the mission parking lot.
Carol and I enjoying "fry bread". First time I've tried fry bread and I thought it was very good.
During the cold war a number of Titan Missile sites were built in the United States. One of the sites south of Tucson has been changed into a museum. This preserved Titan II missile site, officially known as complex 571-7, is all that remains of the 54 Titan II missile sites that were on alert across the United States from 1963 to 1987. Able to launch from its underground silo in just 58 seconds, the Titan II was capable of delivering a 9-megaton nuclear warhead to targets more than 6300 miles (10,000 km) away in about 30 minutes.
We signed up for the director's tour .... one Tuesday a month the director of the museum and former Titan II Missile Combat Crew Commander takes guests on a tour of the site.
Going down into the command station. All of the missile operations were below ground. It was here that I abandoned the tour. Being 35 feet below ground with only one stairwell out caused my claustrophobia to make itself known (hadn't even considered it when we booked the tour). Did it ever feel good when I got back to the surface. Ed took lots of photos and video so I could see what it was like.
The command room.
The hallway to the missile and the missile.
Back on the surface. The missile doors. One side has been modified so you can see the missile below.
Looking down on the missile.
The oldest intact European structure in Arizona, the church's interior is filled with marvelous original statuary and mural paintings. It is still an active church today.
San Xavier del Bac
Our tour leader was very passionate about the mission. One of the stories she told us was about the cat and the mouse. There are two spirals in the top of the middle section of the facade of the mission. On one spiral is a mouse, on the other spiral is a cat. It is said that if the cat ever catches the mouse, Armageddon is happening, ie. the mission has been destroyed.
The main alter in the mission. The mission is an interesting blend of traditional Catholic church and native north American beliefs. The Franciscans ran out of funds before the mission was completed causing the architects and artisans to depart leaving the local residents to complete the mission.
The mission is being restored to it's 1910 (or thereabouts) condition. A lot has been completed but there is still more to be done.
A view of the mission from a nearby hill.
Food stands were set up in the mission parking lot.
Carol and I enjoying "fry bread". First time I've tried fry bread and I thought it was very good.
During the cold war a number of Titan Missile sites were built in the United States. One of the sites south of Tucson has been changed into a museum. This preserved Titan II missile site, officially known as complex 571-7, is all that remains of the 54 Titan II missile sites that were on alert across the United States from 1963 to 1987. Able to launch from its underground silo in just 58 seconds, the Titan II was capable of delivering a 9-megaton nuclear warhead to targets more than 6300 miles (10,000 km) away in about 30 minutes.
We signed up for the director's tour .... one Tuesday a month the director of the museum and former Titan II Missile Combat Crew Commander takes guests on a tour of the site.
Going down into the command station. All of the missile operations were below ground. It was here that I abandoned the tour. Being 35 feet below ground with only one stairwell out caused my claustrophobia to make itself known (hadn't even considered it when we booked the tour). Did it ever feel good when I got back to the surface. Ed took lots of photos and video so I could see what it was like.
The command room.
The hallway to the missile and the missile.
Back on the surface. The missile doors. One side has been modified so you can see the missile below.
Looking down on the missile.