Churches – RDZ Photography

El Paso – September 2022 – Historic Missions

The El Paso area is home to 3 historic missions. All of the missions were founded in an effort to convert the native population.

We started with the Presidio Chapel of San Elizaro. The original building was constructed in 1789 as a fort (hence the name Presidio).

The buildings were destroyed in a flood in 1829, and thereafter the use of the fort was rendered unnecessary with Mexico’s independence from Spain. In 1882 the existing chapel was constructed.

In addition to the chapel there are other period buildings in the area.

Socorro Mission is about 5 miles up the road to El Paso. The mission here dates from the late 1600s, which again was destroyed by floods in the 1800s. The current building was completed in 1843, with a major reconstruction occurring in 1995.

During the reconstruction the original ceiling was repurposed and included in the remodel.

The sconces include artistic interpretations of the church itself.

Our final stop is at the oldest of the 3 missions, Yselta. Dating from 1660, this building too is a replacement for one that was destroyed in floods.

Artistic elements in the interior include tributes to the native population that the mission has served.

Tucson – April 2022 – Mission San Xavier del Bac

Architecture, Art, History

One of the best examples of Spanish Colonial architecture in the United States is the Mission San Xavier del Bac.

The church underwent a 20 year restoration, with the final scaffolding coming down in the last month.

Tumacacori National Historic Park Arizona – April 2022 – Oldest Mission in Southern Arizona

Architecture, Art, History, Museum

The Spanish Colonial Jesuits missionaries established numerous missions throughout the area that is now Arizona in the late 1600s. The Mission San Jose de Tumacacori was established in 1691, with the existing church’s construction being started in the 1750s.

The grounds are now owned by the National Park Service.

Phoenix – August 2021 – Architecture Tour on a Sunday Morning

Architecture, History, Museum, Transportation

While much of Phoenix is a vast suburban landscape, there are a number of architecturally interesting buildings in the area.

What was once the Santa Fe Freight Depot is now the Maricopa County Assessors Office.

The Arizona State Historic Preservation Office in one of the few remaining old houses downtown.

What I thought was an observatory is a church.

Side view of the historic Maricopa County Courthouse, with a streetcar stop.

The Luhrs Tower dates from 1929. The building made an appearance in the movie Pyscho, and is thought to be haunted.

Arizona State University Music Building – Designed by Wesley Peters, son in law of Frank Lloyd Wright (more below on him). This is known as the Birthday Cake building.

Frank Lloyd Wright lived and worked in Phoenix for many years. There are a number of his designed homes, churches and public buildings in the area.

Gammon Auditorium – Designed by FLW but completed after his death.

San Isidro, Argentina – December 2019 – A Quiet Sunday

Architecture, History, Transportation

Argentina has a tradition where everyone decorates for Christmas on the same day. We happened to choose that day to go to San Isidro to look around. The result was a very quiet city, but one with some nice architecture.

We took the Tren De La Costa (Train of the Coast) up. While billed as a tourist train, it seemed like any other train, only smaller.

A walk through a mostly empty park to the riverside gave us a view of a few vintage cars.

The highlight of San Isidro is the cathedral.

The area around the cathedral has some interesting buildings.

Eventually we gave up and went to another quiet train station for the ride home. Ciao San Isidro.

Buenos Aires – December 2019 – Barracas Barrio

Architecture, Art, History, Nature

While we had a fail on Saturday with a tour of San Telmo, our day Sunday turned out much better with a tour along with Silvia from Buenos Aires Eclectic of the Barracas Barrio.

We started out at La Casa De Los Leones, the House of the Lions. Home to Eustoquio Diaz Velez, who was a rich land owner in the 1800s. Legend has it that Diaz Velez kept lions on the property, and one night one escaped and killed a boyfriend of one of his daughters.

Across the street is the historic house Ingles Montes.

Many of the buildings along the street have great detail.

Dating from the late 1800s the Santa Lucia Church graces the street amongst the 15 floor apartment buildings.

The area has gone through some gentrification, with these 30 floor apartment buildings standing along side 1800s buildings.

A Buenos Aires staple, the Aguila Chocolate factory was a major neighborhood employer. The company still exists, but the iconic factory is now a grocery store.

As with most Buenos Aires neighborhoods, there is some interesting graffiti.

Lanin Street is so cool I have dedicated an entire posting to it – following this posting.

Plaza Colombia has this great sculpture and flagpole.

While nearby is the spectacular Santa Felicitas Church. Built in German Gothic style it is one of, if not the only, example of this style in the world.

The courtyards are elegant.

The basement has what is known as the Tunnel Museum, with the history of the church and the neighborhood.

They had a collection of nun wardrobes!

Much of the museum was dedicated to the immigrant community.

A local cooking legend, Dona Petrona, was also featured.

The upper level had a nave, but is no longer used as a church – it now serves as a community center.

Many thanks to Silvia for an informative and entertaining tour.

Chicago – October 2019 – Open House V3.0

Architecture, Art, Festival, History

Late October means it is time for Open House Chicago – our 3rd straight year! As always there were hundreds of volunteers making sure your visit to over 250 buildings went well.

This year ended up having an emphasis on theaters and churches. We started with the Goodman Theater.

Just around the corner is the Nederlander Theater. Built in 1926 and operated for nearly 100 years as the Oriental Theater, it was recently renamed for James Nederlander, the founder of Broadway in Chicago.

It is the most ornate theater I have ever seen.

Our morning of theaters ended with the Lyric Opera Theater.

Chicago was for many years the mail order center of the world, and as such had a massive main post office, located next to Union Station. Today it is being redeveloped into condos.

The Monroe Building is located along South Michigan Avenue. Built in 1912 it has one of the largest collections of Rookwood Pottery tiles in the world.

The Seventeenth Church of Christ is a modern style church located amongst the skyscrapers of Wacker Drive. Completed in 1968, it has a unique look for a church.

For something totally different we made a visit to the Prairie Concrete Company. It is the largest volume concrete dealer in the country, with the capability of creating enough concrete for a 2 car garage every 90 seconds!

This is their only pink cement truck.