It was the site of a Catholic mission to the local Indians run by Spanish Franciscans, 1716-1772. A small Spanish pueblo was set up in the abandoned mission in 1779. The town became the gateway for French, and later American movement into [[History of Texas|Texas]]. | It was the site of a Catholic mission to the local Indians run by Spanish Franciscans, 1716-1772. A small Spanish pueblo was set up in the abandoned mission in 1779. The town became the gateway for French, and later American movement into [[History of Texas|Texas]]. |