- Historic Spanish Catholic mission - Located about 10 miles south of downtown Tucson via Interstate Highway I-19 - National Historic Landmark - Active Roman Catholic Parish in the Diocese of Tucson - The original mission was founded in 1700 by Jesuit explorer Father Eusebio Kino - Construction of the current church began in 1783 and was completed in 1797 - The Mission is also known as the "White Dove of the Desert" - The del Bac part of the name is Tohono O'odham, meaning "place where water appears" - The mission is located on the Tohono O'odham Nation San Xavier Indian Reservation, in an area of natural springs and the Santa Cruz River - Mission San Xavier del Bac is both a pilgrimage church and a significant cultural site, hosting over 300,000 visitors annually - The "Historic Preservation" US postage stamp series included the San Xavier mission SanXavierMission.org Map