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| San Antonio Attractions - The San Antonio Missions |
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The San Antonio Missions National
Historic Park |
The San Antonio Missions National Historical
Park
2202 Roosevelt Avenue
San
Antonio, TX 78210
Phone: 210-932-1001
Click here to visit their website. |
The chain of missions
established along the San Antonio River in the 18th century are
reminders of one of Spain's most successful attempts to extend its New
World dominion from Mexico. Representing both church and state, these
missions were charged with converting the local Native Americans,
collectively called Coahuiltecans, into devout Catholics and productive
members of Spanish society.
More than just churches on the Spanish Colonial frontier, the missions
also served as vocational and educational centers, economic enterprises
involved in agricultural and ranching endeavors and regional trade. They
were the greatest concentration of Catholic missions in North America
and formed the foundation for what is today the thriving city of San
Antonio.
The park contains the historically and architecturally significant
structures of missions Concepción, San José, San Juan and Espada. Other
important cultural resources included are the historic Espada Dam and
Aqueduct, acequia (irrigation) systems and the Rancho de las Cabras.
Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New
Year's.
Free admission. The visitor center is located next to Mission San Jose
and contains a theater showing a 20-minute depiction of early life at
the mission, a museum and book shop. 210-534-8833 or 210-932-1001 Fax:
210-534-1106
Mission Concepción
807 Mission Rd. at Felisa St. (78210)
This handsome church looks essentially as it did 200 years ago. From
1731, religious festivals were held as friars strove to replace
traditional Native American ritual by the demonstration of Christian
ideals. Remnants of wall and ceiling paintings in the surviving rooms of
the mission's convento have been conserved. Wayside exhibits lead
visitors around the grounds and through the various rooms. The site also
features a visitor contact station and a sales area. 210-534-1540
Mission San José
6701 San Jose Dr. (78214)
Founded in 1720 by Fray Antonio Margil de Jesús, San José became the
largest and best known of the Texas Missions and was viewed as the model
among Texas missions. After early setbacks, 300 inhabitants were
sustained by the vast fields and herds of livestock.
A visitor in 1777 referred to the structure as the "Queen of the
Missions." The carvings on the church are notable features. The famous
"Rose Window" is considered one of the finest pieces of Spanish Colonial
ornamentation in the country. Other features are the convento area and
the stairway to the belfry and choir loft - each of the 25 risers was
hand-hewn from a single live-oak log and constructed without nails or
pegs.
Also featured is a granary with flying buttresses, a gristmill, restored
defensive walls,
and quarters. 210-932-1001
Mission San Juan
9101 Graf Rd. (78214)
Established along the banks of the San Antonio River in 1731 after
relocation from East Texas. With a rich farm and pasturelands it became
a regional supplier of agricultural produce, which helped support the
missions, local settlements and presidio garrisons. The chapel, with its
open bell tower is still in use.
A more elaborate church was never completed.
The site includes a self-guided nature trail. 210-534-0749
Mission Espada
10040 Espada Rd. (78214)
In 1731, after their retreat from East Texas, the founders of San
Francisco de los Tejas moved the mission to the San Antonio River and
renamed it San Francisco de la Espada. Espada appears as remote today as
it did in the mid 1700s.
It boasts the best-preserved segments of the historic acequias (the
irrigation system designed to provide water for crops) part of which
includes the still working Espada dam and aqueduct. In 1995, the ranch
that once supported Mission Espada, Rancho de las Cabras near
Floresville, became part of the National Historical Park and is
currently open on a limited basis. 210-627-2021.
Hours: Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed
Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Admission:
Free |
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