Mission Nombre de Dios and Shrine of Our Lady de La Leche
Project Description + Challenge
Where Christian Culture Took Root in the Americas
Mission Nombre de Dios traces its origins to the founding of the City of St. Augustine, America’s oldest city, in 1565. On September 8, 1565, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés landed and proclaimed this site for Spain and the Church. It was on these grounds that the first Christian Mass in Americas was celebrated. It was at this sacred spot that the Spanish settlers would begin the devotion to Our Lady of La Leche that continues into the present. The challenge for Marquis Latimer + Halback, Inc. in the development of a master plan and landscape architectural design is the interpretation and protection of the sacred site while balancing the needs of the visitor
Our Solution
As you walk through the historic grounds you will be retracing the steps of America’s first founding fathers. The project includes enhancements to the Sacred Acre; the Great Cross; numerous garden and landscape features; and pilgrimage enhancements that organize the visitor experience. This is the site where the Christian faith took root in our country.
