The Franciscan Church

An Apalachee potter interacts with children during an educational camp at Mission San Luis.
Children walk in front of the reconstructed Apalachee council house during a school tour.
An interior view of the Apalachee council house, the largest known historic period Indian building in the Southeast.
Mission San Luis has an ongoing archaeological research program and is the most thoroughly investigated mission in the Southeast.
Living history interpreters visit outside the reconstructed 17th century Franciscan church.
An interior view of the 17th century Franciscan church.

Unforgettable Experiences in an Extraordinary Place

Reconstructing Mission San Luis

Back | Next

The Franciscan Church

Graduate student carefully excavating the remains of a charred post.
The base of the limestone baptismal font indicating the location of the baptistery.
The main support posts being erected during reconstruction.

The size and proportional system of the church at Mission San Luis was identical to its counterpart in St. Augustine, dispelling the popular belief that all Florida missions were simply primitive outposts. The most challenging aspect of the excavation and reconstruction of the church was avoiding any damage to the cemetery located beneath the church’s floor. An estimated 900 mission residents are buried there.