The historic Bridgeton, Indiana mill began its life in 1823 as a local sawmill. Since that time both the mill and the covered bridge its associated with have burned down and been rebuilt, the mill more than once. The mill has also gone through a variety of transformations, transitioning to a grist mill at one point, and a distillery, and eventually a feed mill for the local agricultural economy. Today it largely caters to tourists, serving as a restaurant, the oldest operating mill in Indiana, and a museum.
A prominent welcome sign that visitors see entering Switzerland, County, after crossing the Ohio River from Kentucky via the bridge that spans the Markland Locks and Dam. This part of Indiana is known for its wine-making, several casinos, and as a historic route along the Ohio River, where pioneers entered Indiana, in particular the city of Madison, down stream.
One of the distinguishing cultural and architectural aspects of the American Southwest are historic remnants of Catholic missions that were established by the Empire of Spain in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. The goal unlike the conquest of Mexico and South America for gold and riches, was to save the souls of native american indians the Spanish saw as pagans.
The Spanish Catholic Mission San Xavier del Bac was founded ten miles south of modern day Tucson, Arizona. It was founded in 1692 by Father Eusebio Kino, who also started the Tumacacori Spanish Mission just to the south near the border with Mexico. During his life, Eusebio established more than 24 missions, and country chapels in Pimería Alta (Sonora) and Baja California.
This mission was named after Francis Xavier, a Christian missionary and a founder of the Jesuit Order. The current church was completed in 1797, after the previous structure was destroyed by the Apaches. Its primary mission was the conversion of the local Pima Indians, and more specifically the Tohono O’odham band.
The church employs white stucco and a ornate Moorish-inspired architectural design.
