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The Franciscan Mission Espada (Misión San Francisco de la Espada) was the southernmost of the five baroque mission churches and defense complexes the Spaniards built in the early 18th century to defend the Northern boundary of the Spanish colonial empire against French incursions. The five fortified Franciscan mission churches were built along the San Antonio River about three miles apart from each other.
The Mission Espada was originally founded in East Texas in 1690 as San Francisco de los Tejas but relocated to the banks of the San Antonio River in 1731. A friary was built in 1745, and the church was completed in 1756. Following Spanish government policy, Franciscan missionaries sought to make life within mission communities closely resemble that of Spanish villages and Spanish culture, and Native Americans were taught necessary vocational skills.
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. (14-03-13-6262)
Taken on the Hill Country Camera Club's March 12, 2011 field trip to the San Antonio Missions. A statue of St. Francis of Assisi inside the gift shop at Mission Espada.
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
--
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
--
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. (14-03-13-6291)
The nearby tree provided a nice natural frame for this shot. Single exposure edited in LR 4.3 and Perfect Effects 4.
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 Franciscan Mission Espada (Misión San Francisco de la Espada) was the southernmost of the five baroque mission churches and defense complexes the Spaniards built in the early 18th century to defend the Northern boundary of the Spanish colonial empire against French incursions. The five fortified Franciscan mission churches were built along the San Antonio River about three miles apart from each other.
The Mission Espada was originally founded in East Texas in 1690 as San Francisco de los Tejas but relocated to the banks of the San Antonio River in 1731. A friary was built in 1745, and the church was completed in 1756. Following Spanish government policy, Franciscan missionaries sought to make life within mission communities closely resemble that of Spanish villages and Spanish culture, and Native Americans were taught necessary vocational skills.
The church facade features from the top: a cross, representing Jesus Christ, St. Joseph (San Jose) holding the infant Jesus, St. Dominic and St. Francis, Our Lady of Guadalupe (the Virgin Mary), and St. Joachim and St. Anne holding the infant Mary. A superb example of Spanish Colonial ornamentation that was sculpted around 1775.
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
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
--
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
--
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.
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.
Mission Espada, Bexar County, Texas. The southernmost in a string of five missions in San Antonio, founded by the Spanish in the 1700's. Mission Espada was originally founded in 1690 in east Texas, but due to continuing problems the mission was relocated to its present location on the San Antonio River south of Loop 410 in 1731, formally named Mission San Francisco de la Espada.
The mission is part of the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park, and features the chapel, the surrounding grounds (mostly just rock outlines of buildings and walls), and a small visitor's center. A couple miles to the north is the Espada Aqueduct (closer to Mission San Juan), which tamed the water supply to feed the nearby crops and fields - pictures of the aqueduct are in a separate photoset. Also nearby: a few photos of the Mission Espada Cemetery.
This is just a quick description - I plan on writing up a longer, more detailed description later. Photos taken February 14th and August 13th, 2008.
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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.
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
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. (14-03-13-6288)
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 church facade features from the top: a cross, representing Jesus Christ, St. Joseph (San Jose) holding the infant Jesus, St. Dominic and St. Francis, Our Lady of Guadalupe (the Virgin Mary), and St. Joachim and St. Anne holding the infant Mary.
All rights reserved. Please do not use or reproduce this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit permission.
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.
Part of the Mission San Francisco de la Espada, built in 1731. It is one of four missions that make up San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. The flowers are maintained by Francisican Friars.
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 was built in 1745. In its last years as an active mission, Espada suffered epidemics and fire, along with never-ceasing raids.
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 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. (14-03-13-6264)
Interior of Espada Mission church -- tile floor, rough wooden benches with colorful kneelers. [EspadaMission_SanAntonio_07-22-12_5174_6_8_tonemapped]
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
--
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
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
--
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
--
In the 18th century, the Spanish church established five Catholic missions along the San Antonio River, primarily to extend its dominion northward from Mexico, but also to convert the native population.
What remains of the largest concentration of missions in North America provides an interesting look into Texas’ history.