Weather Worn Wooden Door, Mission San Xavier is a photograph by Douglas Taylor which was uploaded on March 5th, 2023.
Weather Worn Wooden Door, Mission San Xavier
The weather worn west door of the Mission San Xavier sanctuary near Tucson, Arizona, Facing west, this door has seen approximately 83,500 sunsets as... more
Title
Weather Worn Wooden Door, Mission San Xavier
Artist
Douglas Taylor
Medium
Photograph - Fine Art Digital Photography
Description
The weather worn west door of the Mission San Xavier sanctuary near Tucson, Arizona, Facing west, this door has seen approximately 83,500 sunsets as it has weathered almost 230 years of brutal summer afternoon sun.
The current Mission is the second church built on this site. The first was destroyed by an Apache raid in the mid-1700's. The current church dates from the late 1700's, when Southern Arizona was part of New Spain. In 1783, Franciscan missionary Fr. Juan Bautista Velderrain was able to begin construction on the present structure using money borrowed from a Sonoran rancher. He hired an architect, Ignacio Gaona, and enlisted a large workforce of indigenous Tohono O'odham peoples to create the present church. Construction ended in 1797, though the east bell tower was never completed.
Following Mexican independence in 1821, San Xavier became part of Mexico. The last resident Franciscan of the 19th Century departed in 1837. With the Gadsden Purchase of 1854, the Mission joined the United States. And this door has seen it all, including Arizona's becoming the 48th state admitted to the Union in 1912. Mission San Xavier is still an active Catholic Church community.
CONTEST WINNER: 2nd Place, "Doors" contest, March, 2023
Uploaded
March 5th, 2023
More from Douglas Taylor
Comments (13)
Luther Fine Art
Congratulations! Your terrific art has been featured on the ABC Group home page from the B is for BROWN week, March 27 ,2023 - March 27, 2023. You are invited to add your wonderful art in the Features Archive Discussion in the ABC GROUP as a way to preserve your feature.
Douglas Taylor replied:
Pamela! Thank you so much for honoring me with the feature in this superb art group. Your awesome support for my art is greatly appreciated here.
Lyric Lucas
Congratulations, your creative and unique art work is Featured on the homepage of the "Out Of The Ordinary 1 A Day" group! l/f 3/9/23.
Steven Livingston
Such a great door! Congratulations on your second place finish in the contest, Doors.
Kathy McClure
Don't you just love their doors? Nice.
Douglas Taylor replied:
Thanks, Kathy! Yeah, they don't build them like they used to, 230 years ago!
VIVA Anderson
Now THAT'S a Door !! Full of strength and power, to protect, to welcome, too. Kudos, Douglas........another honour to The Mission, now looking so welcoming, strong, sturdy.......great is your research and update of current improvements, FAV !
Douglas Taylor replied:
Thank you so very much for your wonderful words about my photograph, VIVA! Your awesome support is greatly appreciated here.
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