STORY
The Adai were living in what is now northwestern Louisiana formally the Texas territory long before the United States and first recorded by the first European Spaniard exploring North America, Alvar Núnez Cabeza de Vaca when first visiting the Adai territory in 1529. Consequently, almost 200 years passed before the Adai encountered any additional contact with Europeans. When official contact was reestablished with Spain in 1690, the competition of nearby French territorial claims spurred the Spanish to establish six Indian missions among tribes of Texas including a presence near the Adai. The Indian mission church established in 1717 and named after the Adai Tribe called St. Michael of the Adai and established the Presidio de Los Adais again using the tribal name to show friendship, trade and military alliances with the tribe, the Presidio served as the Capital of Texas for almost 50 years, and has its historical presence recognized as a National State Park, and is located on its original site within 5 miles of the Adai Indian Nation Cultural Center and Community.