Los Adaes

Los Adaes
Los Adaes is located in Louisiana
Los Adaes
Los Adaes is located in the United States
Los Adaes
LocationNatchitoches Parish, Louisiana, USA
Nearest cityRobeline, Louisiana
Built1721
NRHP reference No.78001427 (original)
93001622 (increase)
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJune 7, 1978[1]
Boundary increaseNovember 4, 1993
Designated NHLJune 23, 1986[2]
The first map to depict an Adais (Adaie) settlement, shown to the west of a cluster of Natchitoches villages. Drawn in 1718 by Guillaume Delisle

Los Adaes was the capital of Tejas (Texas) on the northeastern frontier of New Spain from 1721 to 1773. It included a Franciscan mission, San Miguel de Cuéllar de los Adaes,[3] and a presidio, Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Los Adaes (Our Lady of the Pillar of the Adaes). The name Adaes derives from the indigenous Adai people, members of the Caddoan confederacy of Indians who were the people the missionaries aimed to convert to Christianity. The presidio and mission were established to counter French influence in Louisiana territory and defend New Spain (Mexico, including Texas) from possible invasion or encroachment by the French. In 1763 Louisiana came under the control of Spain and the Los Adaes outpost was no longer necessary for defense. In 1773 the Spanish closed the mission and presidio and forced the population to move to San Antonio.

The site, now preserved in the state-run Los Adaes State Historic Site, is located on Louisiana Highway 485 in present-day Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986.

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference nhlsum was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Los Adaes". Texas Beyond History.