Guardian Angel Cathedral

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"Born in Spain, on April 12, 1738, Francisco Tomas Hermenegildo Garcés, a Franciscan missionary, was the first European and the first priest on record to enter this sector of Nevada which is now in the diocese of Las Vegas. He offered the first mass in the southern part of the state near Laughlin when, in the course of his explorations during 1775-76, he ventured up the Colorado River, his missionary efforts on the road to California led to his martyrdom, on July 19, 1781, near the juncture of the Gila and Lower Colorado Rivers. His remains were interred at Mission San Pedro Y San Pablo de Tubutama in Sonora, and later transferred to Collegio De La Santa Cruz in Queretaro, Mexico. In recognition of his cultural and religious contributions to what is now the United States, we [The International Order of Alhambra] have declared this cathedral [Guardian Angel Cathedral] a National Catholic Historical Site during this one hundredth anniversary year [2003] of our order."

(The International Order of the Alhambra)

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Opened in 1963 as St. Viator's Guardian Angel Shrine. Became Guardian Angel Cathedral in 1977.

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Architecture: Modern; Paul R. Williams.

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Located at 302 Cathedral Way, Winchester, Nevada.