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From the old Spanish city of Saint Augustine on the Atlantic Coast to the old Spanish city of San Diego on the Pacific Coast the Old Spanish Trail threads its way through old Spanish cities across the continent. In the East is the lure of the Gulf of Mexico. In the West, the Mexican Borderlands and the highways down into that interesting country of Spanish and Mexican achievement, and of legends and relics of Aztec races.
"fW 0U3 SPANISH TRAIL AND ITS HISTQRT
II
Spanish Mission and Administrative RTorks
In the present United States Spanish mission and administrative worts were spread from Florida to California. The earliest wero in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina; the latest, in California. The mission establishments, as a rule, embraced cathedral-like churches of stone, cement or other enduring material, with vocational buildings, livestock ranches and irrigated farms. They became havens of hospitality and cor.torsi of culture in a primitive and strange world. Often the missions were the frontier posts; the padres braving the frontier dangers, and even martyrdom if it came, and often it did come.	The five missions at Son Antonio, Texas, reached the highest
degrees of architectural refinements and majesty. In the Tuoson--Nogales country of Arizona and western iioxico another group of noble buildings and communal enterprises spread over those valleys and deserts. They were also spread over New Mexico.... and thru the El Paso Valley,... and in South and East Texas.,.,and in California from San Diego to Sonoma, 600 mi. north.
TSSL
French and Spanish Works
Old Louisiana was Fronoh territory aftor 1699, with Biloxi, Mobile and New Orleans the first settlements. French life and traditions are strong thru there and westward in Louisiana, and up the Mississippi, the Red, the Mobile and other rivers. Spain ruled Old Louisiana from 1769 to 1800 and interesting old Spanish works are in the old French Quarter in Now Orleans. Creoles are the descendants of French-Spanish unions; many families tracing their ancestry to the nobility of both empires. West on the highway and on the storied Bayou Teche, 140 mi. from New Orleans, is New Iberia, settle d by Spaniards from the Canary Islands. New Iberia means New Spain; Spaniards were Iberians anciently. Today that is the heart of the Evangeline Country immortalizod by Longfellow....the alluring Techo Country....the land of the French-Acadians. North 6 mi. is St. ioartinville, homo of Evangeline.
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Three Centuries of Spanish Power, PrpgrosG and Depline
Spanish conquests and colonization wore well established the first half oentury following the discovery of America; in that oarly period vast territory was brought under the Spanish flag. Tne Spanish Era continued for ■ three centuries before the ware for independence destroyed Spain's New World empire in North, Central and South America. Spain began with oonquests and carnage and rose to the oreation of the noblost works in hiGtory for the benefit of subject races. When Spanish powor ondod, Indians and white vandals destroyed many missions and their properties; others stand in majestic ruins with their marveling story for raodorn-doy travelers; others ore still in servioo and their irrigating systems still serve mankind as they have for centuries......all eloquent heritages of the Spanish conquering spirit.
ANCIENT SPANISH CATES AT ST. AUGUSTINE
The Old Spanish Gates at St. Augustine. Around the walls was a moat filled with water and a hedge of Spanish bayonet plants. A description In 1783 says entrance was by a drawbridge over the moat and thru the gate. The sentry boxes are visible at th© gate. Near by Is old Fort San Marco (Ft. Marlon now) an Interesting example of medieval castle and fort, living quarters, barracks and dungeons.
IN THE VALLEY OF TIIE PAOKES SAN DIEGO. CALIFORNIA
r,.i.i1*®*1?, H,?*of V1.0 Pndros and their missions along tills Const. Snn Diego lins n monument to Father Junfporo 'i'1*0, administered the many mission building enterprises. Jnckson’s “Ramona** is n romantic story of the mission Period and Its fall. Here at San Diego nlso you may look f,°\vn,Jnto *bo “Wishing Well** as you did at St. Augustine l^!,V j'°y	'»'l.	moment	dwell wl.h .1.0,0 (hJ