Ysleta Mission Was Established in 1682 and Is Still Active Today

Ysleta's story reaches back to 1682. After the Pueblo Indian Revolt, Spanish colonists and Tigua people moved south and established Corpus Christi de la Isleta Mission near present-day El Paso.

The Tigua people have lived in this area ever since. That is why Ysleta is often described as one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in what is now the United States. The current church dates to 1851, and the silver-domed bell tower was added in 1897.

Ysleta later became part of El Paso. Federal recognition of the Tigua was restored in 1987, and the mission is still an active worship site, not just a landmark for photos.