Originally established as Mission San Francisco de los Tejas in 1690 by Franciscan missionaries for the purpose of Christianizing and civilizing the Neches and other Indians of the region Reestablished in 1716 Abandoned temporarily due to French incursion from Louisiana in 1719 Relocated here as San Francisco de los Neches by the Marquis de Aguayo in 1721 Removed to the Colorado River in 1730 Permanently located on the San Antonio River in 1731 and there known as San Francisco de la Espada Erected by the State of Texas 1936