National Register of Historic Places

San Miguel Church

Socorro, Socorro County, New Mexico
Listed
April 11, 2016
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
16000162

About this property

San Miguel de Socorro is the Catholic church in Socorro, New Mexico, built on the ruins of the old Nuestra Señora de Socorro mission. The old mission was built around 1627, but was destroyed in 1680 during the Pueblo Revolt. A portion of the adobe wall of the old church remains today and still can be seen behind glass just left of the altar. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. San Miguel is administered by the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. According to the San Miguel website, it is the oldest Catholic church in the United States, founded in 1598. Although the village of Socorro was founded at this time, and the Nuestra Senora de Socorro was built in the 17th century, San Miguel itself was not built until the 19th century. The construction of the church was most likely completed by 1821 when the first church baptisms, burials and marriages were recorded. Local legend has it that during an Apache raid, an angel appeared and scared off the invaders. Parishioners thus decided to name the church after St. Michael, the archangel who supposedly saved the village. The last Mexican governor of New Mexico, Manuel Armijo, is buried at the church. National Register of Historic Places listings in Socorro County, New Mexico

Location

403 El Camins Real St., NW
Socorro, Socorro County, New Mexico
34.06041, -106.89378

Categories

ARCHITECTURETRANSPORTATION
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about San Miguel Church

This page lists San Miguel Church. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your San Miguel Church report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Baca, A. B., House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Garcia, Juan Nepomuceno, House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Garcia Opera House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Illinois Brewery
Industrial
0.2 mi
Biavaschi Saloon-Capitol Bar
Industrial
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Valverde
1862Civil War
11.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was San Miguel Church listed on the National Register?

San Miguel Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 11, 2016.

What type of historic resource is San Miguel Church?

San Miguel Church is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for San Miguel Church?

The period of significance for San Miguel Church is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near San Miguel Church?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near San Miguel Church will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Socorro County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Socorro County.

Explore SocorroCounty ›

More historic places in New Mexico

Browse all historic places in New Mexico.

View New Mexicohistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

New Mexico history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

New Mexicohistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near San Miguel Church will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report