Southside in San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Missions Along the San Antonio River

Photographed by James Hulse, December 27, 2022

1. Missions Along the San Antonio River Marker

Inscription. Exploratory Expeditions Traveled North from New Spain (today's Mexico) beginning in the 1500s seeking to expand Spain's influence in America. In the following two centuries soldiers and priests accompanying these groups established presidios to secure the remote frontier and built missions to spread the Catholic faith. Native inhabitants found refuge from hostile tribes in missionary-led communities and learned the Spanish way of life that included religion and agriculture. Some of the most successful missions were built along the San Antonio River. Mission San Antonio de Valero (the Alamo) was founded here in 1718, followed by Mission San José in 1720, and Missions Concepción, San Juan, and Espada in 1731. To the southeast at today's Goliad, Mission Espíritu Santo was established in 1749 and Mission Rosario in 1754. As permanent settlements developed near the missions, Spain's expansionist goals were fulfilled. The missions closed beginning in the 1790s and their lands and property were distributed to residents. The buildings then fell into disrepair, but renewed interest beginning in the late 1800s led to restoration work that continues today. These efforts have assured the preservation of the San Antonio and Goliad missions reminders of the Spanish colonial legacy.

Captions
Top: San Antonio Valero (the Alamo) is owned by the State of Texas
Photo: Zygmunt Put;
Courtesy: Wikipedia Commons

Bottom 1: San Antonio's missions are San Antonio de Valero (the Alamo, top of panel), San José, Concepción, San Juan, and Espada (clockwise) and are seen here as they appear today.
The four down river mission churches remain active parishes of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, while the surrounding building and grounds are administered by the federal government as the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
Photos (above & right): Mark Mentzer, San Antonio
Courtesy: Ford, Powell & Carson Architects & Planners, San Antonio
National Park Service

Bottom 2: Missions Espiritu Santos (above) and Rosario (below) are historic sites in Goliad State Park. The Mission Rosario site is open by appointment only.
The Franciscan order trained priests at its colleges in Zacatecas and Queretaro, Mexico, to staff missions it founded during the 1700s throughout today's Texas. This map shows the locations of the Texas missions including those along the San Antonio River
Photo: DLS Texas; Courtesy: Wikipedia Commons
Photo: John Stantone; Courtesy: fortwiki.com

Erected by San

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Antonio Missions National Historical Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Hispanic Americans • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1718.

Location. 29° 19.198′ N, 98° 27.053′ W. Marker is in San Antonio, Texas, in Bexar County. It is in Southside. It can be reached from the intersection of Espada Road and Camino Coahuilteca. The marker is located north of the Mission Espada along the River Walk. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10040 Espada Road, San Antonio TX 78214, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South Texas.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Spanish Ranching (a few steps from

The view of the Missions Along the San Antonio River Marker along the River Walk image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, December 27, 2022

2. The view of the Missions Along the San Antonio River Marker along the River Walk

this marker); Rancho de las Cabras (within shouting distance of this marker); Mission Espada: 1731-1824 (within shouting distance of this marker); Mission Espada: The Restoration Period (within shouting distance of this marker); Community Life at Mission Espada (within shouting distance of this marker); Mission San Francisco de la Espada (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Defending the Faithful (about 500 feet away); Church Today / La iglesia hoy en día (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Antonio.

Also see . . . Mission Espada. San Antonio Missions - World Heritage

Mission San Francisco de la Espada was the first Spanish Mission in Texas. It was founded in 1690 as San Francisco de los Tejas near present-day Nacogdoches in East Texas. It was renamed as Mission San Francisco de la Espada when it moved to San Antonio in 1731. Distinctive Spanish design features can be seen in the church doorway, bell tower, and brick archways. Espada’s ranch, Rancho de las Cabras, is 23 miles south of the Mission and had as many as 1,262 head of cattle and 4,000 sheep. Mission Espada’s acequia
Photographed by James Hulse, December 16, 2021

3. Mission San Antonio de Valero (the Alamo)
is the nation’s oldest in continuous use. It still uses San Antonio River water to irrigate local crops today illustrating the connection the river makes between the past and the present.

(Submitted on January 9, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Mission Concepción image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, December 24, 2020

4. Mission Concepción

Mission Espada image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, December 27, 2022

5. Mission Espada

Mission San Juan image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, December 27, 2022

6. Mission San Juan

Credits. This page was last revised on February 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 9, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 245 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 9, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. 3, 4. submitted on January 10, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. 5, 6. submitted on January 9, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.