Like everywhere in the United States, the great State of Texas also has its origin story, and that story starts with the Spanish Missions. San Antonio is home to the most famous of all the Missions, The Alamo, but four others helped to build the great city of San Antonio. Here is my guide to the Alamo and famous San Antonio Missions.
The Alamo
In the heart of Downtown San Antonio lies the first Mission, San Antonio de Valero, also known as The Alamo. It was founded on the San Antonio River in 1718 by Roman Catholic Spanish settlers. They brought their religion and knowledge of how to farm to the Native Americans. They formed relationships with the Native Americans and taught them a new way of life.
It is nicknamed The Alamo, although no one really knows why. There are a few theories that it may be called The Alamo after cottonwood trees that were plentiful in the area. The Spanish word for cottonwood is El Alamo. Another view is that it is named after a group of bandits from a town in Mexico called Alamo de Parras. However it came to be called The Alamo, it is the most famous of all the missions because of a great battle there. Although the Texans lost the battle, the retaliation battle, fought and won in 18 minutes, made The Alamo famous. There are several movies about The Alamo, including one with John Wayne. Today The Alamo is the number one visited site in Texas, with over 2.5 million visitors a year. If you visit The Alamo, I highly recommend a guided tour. We rented phones for a self-guided tour that gave us a lot of information on the structure and history of The Alamo.
British drummer Phil Collins has the most extensive memorabilia collection from The Alamo and has some of his items on display there. The state of Texas is in the process of building an area for his entire collection to be on display soon.
The Daughters of the Republic of Texas decreed that no man-made structure shall cast a shadow upon The Alamo. This statement is now a building code.
Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo
Known as Mission San José, this mission gives you a great example of how big the missions truly were. There are daily tours that a volunteer guides groups through, pointing out the mission’s history. After the success of The Alamo, there was a need for a second mission along the San Antonio River area, and in 1791 San José was established
Inside the mission, you can view the living quarters built into the mission’s walls and see examples of how residents cooked food in outdoor ovens. When the local Indians wanted to join this mission, they were given roles to learn how to govern themselves. Mission San José was very successful and became known as “Queen of the Missions.”
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purisima Concepción de Acuña
Mission Conceptión was relocated from East Texas in 1731 to along the San Antonio River. It has more of its original structure than any other Mission. You will find faded colors of paintings that were once vibrant. Religious services are still held in the Mission.
The missionaries that began Mission Conceptión taught the Native Americans how to be a new type of community. It connected one another through shared responsibilities, and whether it was raising children or feeding and clothing the community, everyone had a role. The price for joining the community meant the Native Americans would surrender to the new religion and embrace the Spanish way of life. The blending of Native American and Spanish cultures has become deep-rooted in Texas’s heritage.
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Mission San Juan was relocated in East Texas to its current location along the San Antonio River in 1731. It was a self-sufficient mission that produced produce, livestock, and textiles. It had a very organized and prosperous trade with other settlements in the area.
On one side of the property, you can see where construction of a new church had started but remains incomplete. In 1786 the construction stopped due to a lack of laborers and resources. There are still residents living on the property at San Juan, and the church mass is still held weekly.
Mission San Francisco de la Espada
Mission Espada was established in 1690 in East Texas and moved to its current location along the San Antonio River in 1731. The Mission built a community resembling a Spanish village. The Indians who came to the Mission learned trades and construction. Mission Espada made their own bricks that can still be seen today. Mission Espada was a productive community that was self-sustaining.
Today you can still see the strong Spanish influence in architecture, where two completely different civilizations came together to form a new culture.
The Missions are a beautiful and vital part of the history and culture of San Antonio and Texas. No visit to San Antonio is complete without visiting the Alamo, but I encourage you to take time to see all the Missions. There is so much to learn at each Mission, and each one has a very different story to tell. The Missions are a UNESCO World Heritage Site to preserve the history and ruins of an ancient civilization.
For more information and maps of the Missions visit San Antonio’s Official Visitors Center And Information Center, located across from The Alamo. When we visited the staff was so helpful and had lots of great recommendations.
For more things to do in San Antonio check out 10 Amazing Things To Do In San Antonio.
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