At Home in San Antonio
Place of the Month
THE MISSIONS
The Spanish missions formed the foundation for the city of San Antonio. From its colonial beginnings as a small settlement near the missions, San Antonio has developed into the ninth largest city in the United States. The modern San Antonio community recognized the structures' significance, and since 1920 has endevored to preserve them. In 1978 the United States Congress established the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park. By formal agreement, the Archdiocese of San Antonio and the National Park Service encourage visitor enjoyment of these sites while ensuring there is no interference with the traditional services at the four active parishes. Although the Alamo (Mission San Antonio de Valero) is San Antonio's most famous mission, it is under the care of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas rather than the National Park Service. It has been deconsecrated and no longer functions as a church.
Click here to download a map of the Mission Trail.(497k)
From the Alamo, drive south on Alamo St. Just south of downtown it will become S. St. Marys St. Continue south about a mile and turn right on Mission Road. the first right will lead you to Lone Star Brewery, but that is another trip. Continue on Mission Rd. to Mission Concepcion. After visiting, continue south on Mission Rd. to the San Antonio River. Turn left on Mission Parkway and follow the river to White Ave. Proceed left to Roosevelt Ave. and go left to Mission San Jose. Leaving from the visitor parking, go south (left) on Roosevelt one block to Napier Ave. Turn left on Napier and then right at the tee. Follow the signs to Mission San Juan. Backtrack slightly when you leave and turn left on Ashley Rd. and cross the river. Follow Ashley (two lefts) to Espada Rd. To the left is the 250 year stone arched Espada Aqueduct. Turn right on Espada. After about a mile, you will enter a small residential neighborhood. Notice the historic acequia (waterway) still active today as it meanders through the neighborhood. Here you will find Mission Espada.
The missions are open 9 am to 5 pm daily. They are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Days. For further information, write or call:
Superintendent
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
2202 Roosevelt Ave.
San Antonio, Texas 78210
(210) 534-8833
Mission Conceptión
The handsome church at Concepcion looks essentially as it did more than 200 years ago when it stood at the center of local religious activity. Original interior paintings still remain in the mission. Some are religious symbols and others are decorative, imitating architecture. Return.
Mission San José
One year after Fray Antonio Margil de Jesus left the failed missions in East Texas, he founded what would become the largest and best known of the Texas missions. A visitor in 1777 referred to the structure as the "Queen if the Missions." Return.
Mission San Juan
Originally christened San Jose de los Nazonis while in East Texas, the reestablished mission of San Juan Capistrano made its permanent home along the banks of the San Antonio River in 1731. By mid-century, San Juan, with its rich farms and pasturelands, was a regional supplier of agricultural produce. Return.
Mission Espada
In 1731, after their retreat from East Texas, the founders of San Francisco de los Tejas moved the mission to the San Antonio River renamed it San Francisco de la Espada. The southernmost of the San Antonio chain of missions, Espada appears as remote today as it did in the mid-1700's. Return.
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The handsome church at Concepcion looks essentially as it did more than 200 years ago when it stood at the center of local religious activity. Original interior paintings still remain in the mission. Some are religious symbols and others are decorative, imitating architecture. Return.
One year after Fray Antonio Margil de Jesus left the failed missions in East Texas, he founded what would become the largest and best known of the Texas missions. A visitor in 1777 referred to the structure as the "Queen if the Missions." Return.
Originally christened San Jose de los Nazonis while in East Texas, the reestablished mission of San Juan Capistrano made its permanent home along the banks of the San Antonio River in 1731. By mid-century, San Juan, with its rich farms and pasturelands, was a regional supplier of agricultural produce. Return.
In 1731, after their retreat from East Texas, the founders of San Francisco de los Tejas moved the mission to the San Antonio River renamed it San Francisco de la Espada. The southernmost of the San Antonio chain of missions, Espada appears as remote today as it did in the mid-1700's. Return.