Southwestern Mission Research Center
Committed to promoting and fostering education, research and preservation relating to the Spanish Borderlands for over 50 years
Welcome!
The Southwestern Mission Research Center is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization. We’re committed to the cause of supporting Spanish Borderlands research and education. Our Kino Missions tours introduce people to the history and culture of the Pimería Alta, in the Sonoran Desert of Mexico and Arizona. Proceeds from these tours enable us to sponsor important scholarship on a broader level, assist with publications, and promote education. Furthermore we engage in cooperative restoration projects with the mission communities.
Explore our website to learn more about Spanish colonial missions. Most of all you will find out about the work of the Southwestern Mission Research Center.
Upcoming SMRC Mission Tours
In the News…
“How an enslaved, shipwrecked African became the US’s first great explorer”
A recent article by BBC's Eliot Stein, tells the remarkable story of Estevanico (aka Esteban the Moor), an enslaved Moroccan man who became one of the earliest and most important explorers of North America. In 1527, Estevanico joined a Spanish expedition to the...
“Casta: Race & Identity in Colonial New Mexico” Presentation by Rob Martinez
During the 2026 Corrales Historical Society Speaker Series, State Historian Rob Martinez will discuss "Casta: Race & Identity in Colonial New Mexico." This free lecture will be held on Sunday, May 24, 2026 at 2:00 pm at the Historic Old San Ysidro Church, located...
Kislak Fellows in Review: Presented by Claire Lavarreda
On Monday, May 11, 2026, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm (Mountain Standard Time), you are invited to tune into a discussion of research findings from the Jay I. Kislak Collection at the University of Miami Libraries. Join the collections' research fellow Claire Lavarreda...
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SMRC REVISTA
Highlights recent news and events, feature articles, and notes on recently published books and articles pertaining to the Spanish Borderlands.