Mission Nuestra Senora de los Dolores de los Ais

The mission was built for the Ais, or Ayish, a small people on the southern edge of the Caddo homeland, who mostly stayed in their own villages. Texas Beyond History places the mission near the center of eight Ais settlements on Ayish Bayou, and counts 70 Ais families in 1749. In 1727 no Ais lived at the mission, and in 1767 and 1768 Father Gaspar de Solís reported that they refused to. By 1806 John Sibley found they had left the bayou. In 1795 Ais travelers asked at La Bahía for another mission and were refused.

What the plaque says

Mission Nuestra Senora de los Dolores de los Ais Site of MISSION NUESTRA SENORA DE LOS DOLORES DE LOS AIS Established in 1716 by Padre Fray Antonio Margil de Jesus Here faithful Franciscans labored for the purpose of civilizing and christianizing the Ais Indians Abandoned temporarily due to the French incursions from Louisiana in 1719 Restored by the Marquis of Aguayo in 1721 The mission also served to confirm the claim of the King of Spain to the province of Texas Erected by the State of Texas 1936

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• Site of Home of James Pinckney Henderson — 0.5 mi
• Early Texas Sawmill — 0.6 mi
• San Augustine — 0.6 mi
• Site of Old Customhouse — 0.6 mi