The Buildings
The Great Garden Express features Missions from the Southwest. The buildings are nestled in high-elevation desert plantings and geologically inspired structures that mimic the picturesque, rocky landscape of the Southwest and Arizona.
Train Schedule
| October 1 – May 30 | June 1 – September 30 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday – Sunday | Tuesday – Sunday |
| 9:00am – 2:00pm | 8:00am – 12:00pm |
Learn About the Buildings
All the buildings you see were created using natural materials like sticks, leaves, seeds, nuts, and more!
San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo
Carmel, CA
Carmel, CA
Founded by Father Junipero Serra in 1770 and named after Saint Charles Borromeo, a 16th-century archbishop of Milan. The stone church was completed in 1797 and restored after years of neglect in 1884.
San Francisco De Asis Church
Taos, NM
San Francisco de Asis is a National Historic Landmark. The adobe church was completed in the early 1800s.
Mission San Xavier Del Bac
Tucson, AZ
San Xavier was founded as a Catholic mission by Father Eusebio Kino in 1692. Construction of the current church began in 1783 and was completed in 1797. It is the oldest intact European structure in Arizona, the interior is filled with original statuary and murals.
El Santuario de Chimay
Chimayo, NM
Often called the “Lourdes of America” for its magical healing soil in a small prayer room.
Mission San Francisco De La Espada Chapel
San Antonio, TX
Founded in 1690 as San Francisco de los Tejas near present-day Weches, Texas. In 1731, the mission was transferred to the San Antonio River area and renamed Mission San Francisco de la Espada.
Tumacácori Church
Rio Rico, AZ
The church foundations were laid in the early 1800s under the direction of Franciscan missionaries.
