​Tonkawa Bank

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Marker Text: Reports of a French settlement somewhere in Texas sent a shockwave through New Spain. Eleven expeditions by land and sea were launched to find La Salle's settlement and destroy it. On April 22, 1689, Spanish governor general Alonso De Leonand his troops discovered the deserted outpost. Considering their orders fulfilled, they buried La Salle's eight cannons and returned to Mexico City. One year later, De Leon, returned, burned the French structures, and proceeded on to East Texas to found the first missions there. 
          In 1722, the original Presidio La Bahia was built atop the remains of the French outpost. The original Mission Espiritu Santo was established across Garcitas Creek in present-day Jackson County. The same problems which doomed La Salle's colony, also plagued the Spaniards, necessitating a move. Missionaries led by Father Ignacio De San Jose Y Baena were operating at a new site. Twenty-five miles away on the east bank of the Guadalupe River. By 1725, Tonkawa bank, as it would later be known, had a reliable supply of fresh water (Spring Creek, as well as stone and timber which were used to construct the Spanish complex. A sizable earthen dam. Was constructed to aid the irrigation, of crops below. The mission site quickly outgrowing, the site, Spanish agricultural and missionary activities relocated, once again, eight miles upstream, to the area, now known as Mission Valley. From 1726 to 1749, the mission occupied the west bank of the river, supported by Presido two miles downstream on the opposite bank. By November 1749, the mission and Presidio relocated to San Antonio River near present-day Goliad the migration of Presidio La Bahia and Mission Espiritu Santo from Garcitas  Creek (1722) to the San Antonio River (1749) is a vital chapter in the Spanish colonial history of Texas. (1970, 2011) 

Marker No: 6572 - I believe this number will be used for this marker though it is clearly different from the original 18 x 28 subject marker

Aluminum 27 x 42 Subject Marker 

National Register of Historic Places

Geographic: 28.823988, -97.012985

Location: McCright Drive, Victoria

Original marker text

​Tonkawa Bank
Visita
​of Mission Espiritu Santo

Marker Text: ​Campsite for Franciscans from Mission Espiritu Santo (La Bahia) bringing Christian teachings to Indians associated with Mission. Tonkawas and other tribes were in locality when first visited by the Spaniards, 1689. Indians were sought as converts after Mission was founded in 1722. In turn, converts became Mission's "cowboys" — herding horses and stock. Although nomadic, they left many occupational sites. Stone footings nearby indicate permanent structure for padres' use. Tonkawas were here in Anglo-American colonization era, 1800. (1970) 

Marker No: 6572

18 x 28 Aluminum Subject Marker 

Used with permission of Richard Denney as this marker is no longer at site.