Photograph by Visita Juarez

This was the first temple in the area, which still stands, and was built by the order of the Franciscans who began to evangelize the natives. On December 8, 1659 Fray Garcia de San Francisco founded the Mission of Our Lady of Guadalupe of the Meek Paso del Norte . The place came to take important since it became capital of the Kingdom of New Mexico , from 1681 to 1693.