View allAll Photos Tagged MissionEspada
For more than sixty years, the plaza at Mission Espada in San Antonio, Texas was a busy place of learning of faith as well as works, language, and traditions. Along with the practicing hymns, prayers, and doctrines, mission Indians learned the skills needed to grow crops, to raise cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs, to work iron, to produce textiles, to make brick, and to build with masonry.
Fortified by powerful zeal, Franciscan friars stove to teach the Coahuilteccans how to work and worship as Europeans did - a requirement (in the Spanish mind) for the Indians to become productive servants of God and loyal subjects to the King of Spain.
Mission San Francisco de la Espada (also Mission Espada) was built by Spanish Franciscan in 1756, on the banks of the San Antonio River in present-day San Antonio, Texas.
It is part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
The photo was taken in August 1975.
"1970's Texas" "1970's Texas vacation" "1970's vacation"
"1975 Texas" "1975 Texas vacation" "1975 vacation" "1970's San Antonio" "1975 San Antonio" "1970's Mission Espada" "1975 Mission Espada" "1970's San Antonio Missions National Historical Park" "1975 San Antonio Missions National Historical Park" "1970's San Antonio vacation" "1975 San Antonio vacation"
Back when Texas was in Spanish hands, they built Missions at various points along rivers to bring Catholicism to the masses.
The Mission San Francisco de la Espada in San Antonio, Texas. The mission is part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 (NRHP #72001351).
Mission San Francisco de la Espada is a Roman Rite Catholic mission established in 1690 by Spain and relocated in 1731 to present-day San Antonio, Texas, in what was then known as northern New Spain.
1 Corinthians 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
Known as the "Queen of the Missions", this is the largest of the missions and was almost fully restored to its original design in the 1930s .
nrhp # 72001351- Founded in 1690 as San Francisco de los Tejas southwest of present-day Alto, Texas, Mission San Francisco de la Espada was the first mission established in Texas. There are older missions currently in West Texas, but they were in Mexico at the time they were established.'
Three priests, three soldiers and supplies were left among the Nabedache Indians. The new mission was dedicated on June 1, 1690. A smallpox epidemic in the winter of 1690-1691 killed an estimated 3,300 people in the area. The Nabedaches believed the Spaniards brought the disease and hostilities developed between the two groups.
Drought besieged the mission in the summers of 1691 and 1692, and the Nabedache wished to be rid of the mission. Under threat of personal attack, the priests began packing their belongings in the fall of 1693. On October 25, 1693, the padres burned the mission and retreated toward Monclova. The party lost its way and did not reach Monclova until Febrauary 17, 1694.[1]
The mission was re-established in the same area on July 5, 1716 as Nuestro Padre San Francisco de los Tejas. The new mission had to be abandoned in 1719 because of conflict between Spain and France.
The mission was tried once more on August 5, 1721 as San Francisco de los Neches. As the Nabedache were no longer interested in the mission, and France had abandoned effort to lay claim in the area, the mission was temporarily relocated along the Colorado River in July 1730. Mission Tejas State Park encompasses the original site of the mission.
The mission relocated to its current location in the San Antonio River area (coords 29.3177°, -98.4498°) in March, 1731 and was renamed San Francisco de la Espada. A friary was built in 1745, and the church was completed in 1756.
Several modern churches have been architecturally based on the design of this mission including St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Wimberley, Texas, north of San Antonio.
from Wikipedia
Mission Espada was the first mission in the province of Texas, founded in 1690 as San Francisco de los Tejas. In 1731, the mission was relocated from east Texas to the present location along the San Antonio River and renamed Mission San Francisco de la Espada. Mission Espada is the southern most mission in San Antonio.
more info on Mission Espada: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_San_Francisco_de_la_Espada
When we arrived at this mission, there was a passion play going on right in front of this building. (That metal "stand" object in the foreground is the base they would be using for the cross). As the actors and the audience all walked away from this spot to enact other scenes (different stations of the cross scenes), I was able to get a few shots of the main church building without them in front of it. They soon returned to put the Jesus actor on the cross right here where the stand is. I did get some shots of that (and I'll probably post one someday), but I had the audience members' backs all in front of me.
More of my work can be seen at BlueCityPhotography.com.
Mission San Francisco de la Espada, like its sister missions San Jose, San Juan, and Concepcion, had its beginnings in East Texas. Originally named San Francisco de los Tejas, Espada was renamed and relocated to San Antonio in 1731. It is the southernmost of the chain of missions located on the San Antonio River. Mission Espada features a very attractive chapel, along with an unusual door and stone entrance archway.
This old hand-hewn wooden cross greets visitors at the doorway to the old Spanish Mission Espada in San Antonio. If you have never visited the old missions, you are missing out. These lovely old structures are charming, especially in morning light.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park preserves four of the five Spanish frontier missions in San Antonio, Texas, USA. These outposts were established by Catholic religious orders to spread Christianity among the local natives.
Mission San Francisco de la Espada (also Mission Espada) was built by Spanish Franciscan in 1756, on the banks of the San Antonio River in present-day San Antonio, Texas.
It is part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
The photo was taken in August 1975.
Mission San Francisco de la Espada (also Mission Espada) was built by Spanish Franciscan in 1756, on the banks of the San Antonio River in present-day San Antonio, Texas.
It is part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
The photo was taken in March 1979.
San Antonio Missions
The legacy and history of San Antonio and this region began with a simple ceremony when in 1718 Franciscans and Spanish representatives established the first mission. Within 13 years, five were located along the San Antonio River. The missions’ purpose? To acculturate and Christianize the native population and make them Spanish citizens. Today, visitors can retrace the footsteps of the mission Indians and friars. And, possibly, meet descendants of those first inhabitants.
Administrative Headquarters
2202 Roosevelt Avenue
San Antonio, Texas 78210
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Antonio_Missions_National_Histo...
Information follows for each of the missions:
1) Mission Concepción
2) Mission San José
3) Mission San Juan
4) Mission Espada
5) Espada Aqueduct
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Mission Concepción
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purisima Concepción de Acuña
This handsome stone church was dedicated in 1755, and appears very much as it did over two centuries ago. It stands proudly as the oldest unrestored stone church in America. In its heyday, colorful geometric designs covered its surface, but the patterns have long since faded or been worn away. However, original frescos are still visible in several of the rooms.
Mission Concepción
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purisima Concepción de Acuña
807 Mission Road at Felisa St.
San Antonio, Texas 78210
(210) 534-1540
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_Concepcion
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Mission San José
Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo
Known as the "Queen of the Missions", this is the largest of the missions and was almost fully restored to its original design in the 1930s by the WPA (Works Projects Administration). Spanish missions were not churches, but communities, with the church the focus. Mission San José shows the visitor how all the missions might have looked over 250 years ago.
Mission San José
6701 San José Drive
San Antonio, Texas 78214
(210) 932-1001
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Miguel_de_Aguayo,_Texas
--
Mission San Juan
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Originally founded in 1716 in eastern Texas, Mission San Juan was transferred in 1731 to its present location. In 1756, the stone church, a friary, and a granary were completed. A larger church was begun, but was abandoned when half complete, the result of population decline.
San Juan was a self-sustaining community. Within the compound, Indian artisans produced iron tools, cloth, and prepared hides. Orchards and gardens outside the walls provided melons, pumpkins, grapes, and peppers. Beyond the mission complex Indian farmers cultivated maize (corn), beans, squash, sweet potatoes, and sugar cane in irrigated fields. Over 20 miles southeast of Mission San Juan was Rancho de Pataguilla, which, in 1762, reported 3,500 sheep and nearly as many cattle.
These products helped support not only the San Antonio missions, but also the local settlements and presidial garrisons in the area. By the mid 1700s, San Juan, with its rich farm and pasturelands, was a regional supplier of agricultural produce. With its surplus, San Juan established a trade network stretching east to Louisiana and south to Coahuila, Mexico. This thriving economy helped the mission to survive epidemics and Indian attacks in its final years.
Mission San Juan
Mission San Juan Capistrano
9101 Graf Road
San Antonio, Texas 78214
(210) 534-0749
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_San_Juan_Capistrano_(Texas)
--
Mission Espada
Mission San Francisco de la Espada
Founded in 1690 as San Francisco de los Tejas near present-day Weches, Texas, this was the first mission in Texas. In 1731, the mission transferred to the San Antonio River area and renamed Mission San Francisco de la Espada. A friary was built in 1745, and the church was completed in 1756.
Following government policy, Franciscan missionaries sought to make life within mission communities closely resemble that of Spanish villages and Spanish culture. In order to become Spanish citizens and productive inhabitants, Native Americans learned vocational skills. As plows, farm implements, and gear for horses, oxen, and mules fell into disrepair, blacksmithing skills soon became indispensable. Weaving skills were needed to help clothe the inhabitants. As buildings became more elaborate, mission occupants learned masonry and carpentry skills under the direction of craftsmen contracted by the missionaries.
After secularization, these vocational skills proved beneficial to post-colonial growth of San Antonio. The legacy of these Native American artisans is still evident throughout the city of San Antonio today.
Mission Espada
Mission San Francisco de la Espada
10040 Espada Road
San Antonio, Texas 78214
(210) 627-2021
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_San_Francisco_de_la_Espada
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Espada Aqueduct
The Espada Acequia, or Piedras Creek Aqueduct, was built by Franciscan friars in 1731 in what is now San Antonio, Texas, United States. It was built to supply irrigation water to the lands near Mission San Francisco de la Espada, today part of San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. The acequia is still in use today and is an Historic Civil Engineering Landmark and a National Historic Landmark.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espada_Acequia
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Founded in 1690 as San Francisco de los Tejas, this oldest of the East Texas missions was moved to the San Antonio River in 1731 and there renamed San Francisco de la Espada.
It was Spanish policy that missionaries make mission community life like a Spanish village's life. To develop a solid economy, they taught mission Indians vocations. Men learned to weave cloth. Blacksmiths, indispensable, repaired farm implements and broken metal tools. Others learned carpentry, masonry and stone cutting for building elaborate buildings. Espada was the only mission that made bricks, which one can still see. (14-03-13-6293)
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park preserves four of the five Spanish frontier missions in San Antonio, Texas, USA. These outposts were established by Catholic religious orders to spread Christianity among the local natives.
Founded in 1690 in East Texas as San Francisco de Tejas, this it the oldest of the missions in San Antonio. It was relocated here in 1731 and renamed the Mission of San Francisco de la Espada. It is a part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park preserves four of the five Spanish frontier missions in San Antonio. These outposts were established by Catholic religious orders to spread Christianity among the local natives. The missions formed part of a colonization system that stretched across the Spanish northern frontier in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.
Mission Espada was the first mission in the province of Texas, founded in 1690 as San Francisco de los Tejas. In 1731, the mission was relocated from east Texas to the present location along the San Antonio River and renamed Mission San Francisco de la Espada. Mission Espada is the southern most mission in San Antonio.
San Antonio Missions
The legacy and history of San Antonio and this region began with a simple ceremony when in 1718 Franciscans and Spanish representatives established the first mission. Within 13 years, five were located along the San Antonio River. The missions’ purpose? To acculturate and Christianize the native population and make them Spanish citizens. Today, visitors can retrace the footsteps of the mission Indians and friars. And, possibly, meet descendants of those first inhabitants.
Administrative Headquarters
2202 Roosevelt Avenue
San Antonio, Texas 78210
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Antonio_Missions_National_Histo...
Information follows for each of the missions:
1) Mission Concepción
2) Mission San José
3) Mission San Juan
4) Mission Espada
5) Espada Aqueduct
--
Mission Concepción
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purisima Concepción de Acuña
This handsome stone church was dedicated in 1755, and appears very much as it did over two centuries ago. It stands proudly as the oldest unrestored stone church in America. In its heyday, colorful geometric designs covered its surface, but the patterns have long since faded or been worn away. However, original frescos are still visible in several of the rooms.
Mission Concepción
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purisima Concepción de Acuña
807 Mission Road at Felisa St.
San Antonio, Texas 78210
(210) 534-1540
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_Concepcion
--
Mission San José
Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo
Known as the "Queen of the Missions", this is the largest of the missions and was almost fully restored to its original design in the 1930s by the WPA (Works Projects Administration). Spanish missions were not churches, but communities, with the church the focus. Mission San José shows the visitor how all the missions might have looked over 250 years ago.
Mission San José
6701 San José Drive
San Antonio, Texas 78214
(210) 932-1001
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Miguel_de_Aguayo,_Texas
--
Mission San Juan
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Originally founded in 1716 in eastern Texas, Mission San Juan was transferred in 1731 to its present location. In 1756, the stone church, a friary, and a granary were completed. A larger church was begun, but was abandoned when half complete, the result of population decline.
San Juan was a self-sustaining community. Within the compound, Indian artisans produced iron tools, cloth, and prepared hides. Orchards and gardens outside the walls provided melons, pumpkins, grapes, and peppers. Beyond the mission complex Indian farmers cultivated maize (corn), beans, squash, sweet potatoes, and sugar cane in irrigated fields. Over 20 miles southeast of Mission San Juan was Rancho de Pataguilla, which, in 1762, reported 3,500 sheep and nearly as many cattle.
These products helped support not only the San Antonio missions, but also the local settlements and presidial garrisons in the area. By the mid 1700s, San Juan, with its rich farm and pasturelands, was a regional supplier of agricultural produce. With its surplus, San Juan established a trade network stretching east to Louisiana and south to Coahuila, Mexico. This thriving economy helped the mission to survive epidemics and Indian attacks in its final years.
Mission San Juan
Mission San Juan Capistrano
9101 Graf Road
San Antonio, Texas 78214
(210) 534-0749
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_San_Juan_Capistrano_(Texas)
--
Mission Espada
Mission San Francisco de la Espada
Founded in 1690 as San Francisco de los Tejas near present-day Weches, Texas, this was the first mission in Texas. In 1731, the mission transferred to the San Antonio River area and renamed Mission San Francisco de la Espada. A friary was built in 1745, and the church was completed in 1756.
Following government policy, Franciscan missionaries sought to make life within mission communities closely resemble that of Spanish villages and Spanish culture. In order to become Spanish citizens and productive inhabitants, Native Americans learned vocational skills. As plows, farm implements, and gear for horses, oxen, and mules fell into disrepair, blacksmithing skills soon became indispensable. Weaving skills were needed to help clothe the inhabitants. As buildings became more elaborate, mission occupants learned masonry and carpentry skills under the direction of craftsmen contracted by the missionaries.
After secularization, these vocational skills proved beneficial to post-colonial growth of San Antonio. The legacy of these Native American artisans is still evident throughout the city of San Antonio today.
Mission Espada
Mission San Francisco de la Espada
10040 Espada Road
San Antonio, Texas 78214
(210) 627-2021
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_San_Francisco_de_la_Espada
--
Espada Aqueduct
The Espada Acequia, or Piedras Creek Aqueduct, was built by Franciscan friars in 1731 in what is now San Antonio, Texas, United States. It was built to supply irrigation water to the lands near Mission San Francisco de la Espada, today part of San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. The acequia is still in use today and is an Historic Civil Engineering Landmark and a National Historic Landmark.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espada_Acequia
--
The holy font inside the front entranceway to Mission Espada at San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. This font is in its original form used by native Americans and Spanish colonists during the 1750's.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3
Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II @ 30mm
ISO: 400
Aperture: f/9
Shutter Speed: 1/25
nrhp # 72001351- Founded in 1690 as San Francisco de los Tejas southwest of present-day Alto, Texas, Mission San Francisco de la Espada was the first mission established in Texas. There are older missions currently in West Texas, but they were in Mexico at the time they were established.'
Three priests, three soldiers and supplies were left among the Nabedache Indians. The new mission was dedicated on June 1, 1690. A smallpox epidemic in the winter of 1690-1691 killed an estimated 3,300 people in the area. The Nabedaches believed the Spaniards brought the disease and hostilities developed between the two groups.
Drought besieged the mission in the summers of 1691 and 1692, and the Nabedache wished to be rid of the mission. Under threat of personal attack, the priests began packing their belongings in the fall of 1693. On October 25, 1693, the padres burned the mission and retreated toward Monclova. The party lost its way and did not reach Monclova until Febrauary 17, 1694.[1]
The mission was re-established in the same area on July 5, 1716 as Nuestro Padre San Francisco de los Tejas. The new mission had to be abandoned in 1719 because of conflict between Spain and France.
The mission was tried once more on August 5, 1721 as San Francisco de los Neches. As the Nabedache were no longer interested in the mission, and France had abandoned effort to lay claim in the area, the mission was temporarily relocated along the Colorado River in July 1730. Mission Tejas State Park encompasses the original site of the mission.
The mission relocated to its current location in the San Antonio River area (coords 29.3177°, -98.4498°) in March, 1731 and was renamed San Francisco de la Espada. A friary was built in 1745, and the church was completed in 1756.
Several modern churches have been architecturally based on the design of this mission including St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Wimberley, Texas, north of San Antonio.
from Wikipedia
A re-processed shot from Mission Espada, located in San Antonio, Texas.
For more on this photo, please visit my blog post:
Mission San Francisco de la Espada, like its sister missions San Jose, San Juan, and Concepcion, had its beginnings in East Texas. Originally named San Francisco de los Tejas, Espada was renamed and relocated to San Antonio in 1731. It is the southernmost of the chain of missions located on the San Antonio River. Mission Espada features a very attractive chapel, along with an unusual door and stone entrance archway.
nrhp # 72001351- Founded in 1690 as San Francisco de los Tejas southwest of present-day Alto, Texas, Mission San Francisco de la Espada was the first mission established in Texas. There are older missions currently in West Texas, but they were in Mexico at the time they were established.'
Three priests, three soldiers and supplies were left among the Nabedache Indians. The new mission was dedicated on June 1, 1690. A smallpox epidemic in the winter of 1690-1691 killed an estimated 3,300 people in the area. The Nabedaches believed the Spaniards brought the disease and hostilities developed between the two groups.
Drought besieged the mission in the summers of 1691 and 1692, and the Nabedache wished to be rid of the mission. Under threat of personal attack, the priests began packing their belongings in the fall of 1693. On October 25, 1693, the padres burned the mission and retreated toward Monclova. The party lost its way and did not reach Monclova until Febrauary 17, 1694.[1]
The mission was re-established in the same area on July 5, 1716 as Nuestro Padre San Francisco de los Tejas. The new mission had to be abandoned in 1719 because of conflict between Spain and France.
The mission was tried once more on August 5, 1721 as San Francisco de los Neches. As the Nabedache were no longer interested in the mission, and France had abandoned effort to lay claim in the area, the mission was temporarily relocated along the Colorado River in July 1730. Mission Tejas State Park encompasses the original site of the mission.
The mission relocated to its current location in the San Antonio River area (coords 29.3177°, -98.4498°) in March, 1731 and was renamed San Francisco de la Espada. A friary was built in 1745, and the church was completed in 1756.
Several modern churches have been architecturally based on the design of this mission including St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Wimberley, Texas, north of San Antonio.
from Wikipedia
Shot of the historic Mission Espada in San Antonio. This was a 3 shot HDR processed in Photomatix and stylized in OnOne Perfect Effects and finished in Lightroom 4.3.
21 - Historical 114 pictures in 2014
47 of 365 pictures in 2014
Mission Espada is one of four Missions in San Antonio. Read more about this mission here: www.nps.gov/saan/planyourvisit/espada.htm and here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Antonio_Missions
Efforts are underway to have the San Antonio Missions designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.