Mision Mariaelena was built on a construction that is 150 years old. In its first face, the building was used as a military quarter which main objective was to safe keep the pilgrims of the region from indigenous and outlaws atacks.

The construction was built with materials found in the region such as clay and wheat straw blocks. Ceilings are made of amacham-brada wood, soil and morillos logs; the last were cut from the forests that make the mountains surrounding the Valley of Cuatro Ciénegas. This type of construction is called terrado locally. Material used to finish the walls is made of slaked lime, sand and ash base which acts as a natural thermal element with a unique hardness that lasts a long time; these are key due to the desertic climate that prevails in the region. Thus the thikness of the walls in between 1 to 1.5 meters (3 to 4.5 feet) and ceilings with considerable heights; all in tandem help preserve adequate temperatures within the building during any season of the year. Existing doors and floors were remodeled about 100 years ago.