San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Address:San Antonio, Texas
Tel: (210) 534-8833

Explore the old mission communities where natives lived and were Christianized by the Spanish. Experience the uniqueness of each mission and retrace the footsteps of natives and friars from years past!

In 1718, Franciscans and Spanish representatives began building the first of five missions along the San Antonio River, intended to acculturate and Christianize the native population. Today, since the missions were built only about 3 miles apart, visitors can see them all in 2 or 3 hours, traveling by car. Each mission has an information office with driving instructions, or you can take the hike-and-bike trail (12 miles) that brings you right to each mission, and gives you the scenic route right along the riverbank. Concepción is the oldest, unrestored Texas mission, and still looks much as it did 200 years ago, with its traces of color and restored wall paintings inside. San José, probably the best known and most beautiful, shouldn't be missed, with its restored granary, mill, and Indian quarters and popular mariachi masses held here every Sunday. The San Juan Capistrano mission has an original simple chapel and wilder setting which gives it a relaxing feel. In addition to the buildings themselves, visitors can enjoy a short interpretive trail that winds through the woods to the banks of the old river channel and catch the movie "Gente de Razón," which tells the story of the native people of 18th-century south Texas, their role in colonizing New Spain, and the results of entering the Spanish missions.

To get to the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, take South St. Mary's Street, past downtown and under railroad tracks. South St. Mary's Street will turn into Roosevelt Ave. You'll pass a drive-in theater on your left and then a large stone structure, Mission San José. After the mission, make a left onto New Napier Ave. and enter the parking lot. Take this opportunity to enjoy a taste of religious and colonial history!