San Antonio Missions National Park Service National Historical Park U.S
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San Antonio Missions National Park Service National Historical Park U.S. Department of the Interior San Antonio Missions Texas The chain of missions established along the spreading the Catholic faith—the basis of other Franciscan missions in New Spain, the River valley in 1731. These five missions, a secularized—the lands were redistributed San Antonio River in the 1700s is a reminder Span ish colonial society—among the frontier friars transferred a failed mission on the Rio presidio (fort), and settlement were the seeds among the in hab i tants, and the churches of one of Spain’s most successful attempts Indians. Financed by the Crown, Franciscan Grande to the San Antonio River in 1718. It for one of the most successful Spanish com- were transferred to the secular clergy. to extend its dominion northward from New missions served both Church and State. As an was renamed mission San Antonio de Valero, munities in Texas. These missions flourished Spain (present-day Mexico). Collectively they arm of the church, the mission was the van- later called the Alamo. between 1747 and 1775, despite periodic raids The Spanish missions helped form the foun- form the largest concentration of Catholic guard for converting the Indians spiritually. As by Apache and Com anche Indians. Military dation for the city of San Antonio. Modern missions in North America. an agent of the state, the mission helped push Water, timber, and wildlife in this rich valley support was never ad equate, so the Spanish San Antonio early recognized the missions’ the empire northward. Missions also offered had long attracted Spanish explorers. Not ing trained the Christianized mission Indians to significance, and since the 1920s the city Tales of riches spurred the early Spanish ex- Indians sanctuary from their enemies. the many Coahuiltecan (kwa-weel-teken) defend their communities. has worked to preserve them. Today these plor ers northward across the Rio Grande. By In dians nearby, Fray Antonio Margil de Jesús missions represent a nearly unbroken con- the 1600s Spaniards penetrated areas to the Threatened by French encroachments from est ablished a second mission, San José, in After 70 years there was less need for the nection with the past. Carrying the legacy east, encountering the Tejas Indians for whom Louisiana, Spain stepped up its colonization in 1720. As the East Texas missions failed due to missions because of the effects of European of generations of American Indians and Texas is named. As dreams of wealth fad ed, 1690, establishing six missions in East Texas. disease, drought, and shifting relations with diseases, acculturation, and intermarriage. Hispanics, they live as active parishes. the Spanish concentrated more fully on Needing a way station between these and France, three were moved to the San Antonio By 1824 the San Antonio missions were Coahuiltecans The Franciscan Missions American Indians living Men hunted the oc makers, using baskets by the Spanish, which cartographers, diplo citizenship. Indians Life in the Mission tend gardens; and in the San An to nio mis casional bison, deer, or to store and carry food. eventually decimated mats, scientific observ were taught obedience The Indian neophytes’ make soap, pottery, sions came from several rabbit or trapped fish They practiced rites of their numbers. Strug ers, and chroniclers. to the Crown along days were highly struc and candles. Older hunt ing and gathering and snakes. But fruits, passage and observed gling under such hard But their primary New with the vocational tured. At sunrise, bells residents fished and bands known collec nuts, beans, roots, and seasonal ceremonies ships, Coahuiltecans World task was to ex skills needed for eco called them to morn made arrows. The neo tively as Coa huil tecans seeds gathered by the that were common to proved to be relatively pand Spanish culture nomic selfsufficiency. ing Mass, singing, phytes practiced their (kwaweeltekens). women and children many huntergath erer wil ling recruits for the to whatever lands the prayers, and religious catechism, usually in Ranging across to day’s were the bulk of their cultures. missionaries. In ex Crown claimed. Massive stone walls instruction. They then Spanish. Prayers and a south Texas and north diet. change for labor and Fray Antonio Margil de around the compounds returned to their quar little free time ended eastern Mexico, they Even before mission life conversion to Catholi Jesús (1657–1726), founder The mission system gave residents security ters for the morn ing the day. Church feast moved with the sea Wearing skins and wo changed their ancient cism, Indians received of Mission San José. sought to bring Indians from enemies. Helped meal, usually a corn days were welcome sons in search of food. ven sandals, they used living habits, the Coa food and refuge in the SAN JACINTO MUSEUM, HOUSTON into Spanish society by by soldiers from the dish. breaks in the routine. The bands had distinct bows and arrows, fish huiltecans were being missions. Cross and Crown concentrating the scat nearby presidio (fort), dialects and religious ing nets, digging sticks, pressed by nomadic Spanish colonialism, like tered tribes as church the San Antonio mis Most men and boys Discipline—religious, practices but shared and grinding stones to tribes encroaching from that of other nations centered communities. sions also defended headed for the fields, social, and moral—was broad characteristics. get and prepare food. the north. But a greater then, was exploitative. With the direction of the King’s dominions. orchards, gardens, or the essence of the mis When time permitted threat was the Europe Yet the Franciscans di the Franciscans, the In Soldiers taught the In quarries. Others stayed sion system. Although Extended families they made brush huts an diseases introduced rected these missions dians built these com dians to use European behind to forge iron, some Coahuiltecans would come together and wove sleeping with a gentle hand. An munities, eventually arms. Nearly all armed weave cloth, or build fled the missions to re in larger bands when mats. They produced order of friars whose erecting stone struc patrols in Spanish Texas structures. A few tend turn to their old life, food was abundant. simple pottery and members took vows of tures and developing that pursued Apache ed livestock at the dis most ac cepted Catholi were fine basket poverty, chastity, and stable economies. and Co m anche Indians tant ranches. Women cism and actively took obedience, the Francis included mis sion Indian and girls learned to part in Spanish society. cans pledged to serve Missions functioned auxiliaries. cook, sew, and spin; as protectors of the In primarily as religious Mission San José, mid-1700s dians. They also helped centers and training the Crown as explorers, grounds for Span ish ILLUSTRATION OF MISSION LIFE NPS/RICHARD WILLIAMS Visiting the Missions Spanish Colonial Architecture The Alamo About Your Visit Early missions were unwalled communities Mission San Antonio de Valero is commonly The visitor center—located at 6701 San José built of wood or adobe. Later, as tensions called the Alamo (right). Founded in 1718, it Drive, San Antonio, TX 78214—and missions are between northern tribes and mission resi was the first mission on the San Antonio open daily except Thanksgiving Day, December dents grew, these structures were encircled River. After 106 years as the sole caretaker 25, and January 1. The park has picnic tables. Food, camping, and lodging are nearby. by stone walls. Directed by skilled artisans of the Alamo, the Daughters of the Repub recruited from New Spain, the mission lic of Texas now manages this state historic For Your Safety Be careful: walks, ramps, and Indians built their communities. They pre site under the Texas General Land Office. steps can be uneven and slippery. • Avoid fire served the basic Spanish model, modified ants; stay on sidewalks. • Lock your car with as frontier conditions dictated. valuables out of sight. • Flash floods are com ALL PHOTOS NPS mon and deadly. When the San Antonio River rises, the mission trail south of Mission San José Concepción is closed. Don’t pass barriers that announce water on roads. Be cautious at water crossings. The mission of Nuestra Missionaries worked to conversions when Indi- Be Considerate Stay off fragile stone walls. The Señora de la Purísima replace traditional ans took the sacra- missions are places of worship. Do not disrupt Concepción was trans- Indian rituals with reli- ments. religious services; be respectful of priests and ferred from East Texas gious festivals teaching parishioners. in 1731. The church Christian be liefs. Carv- While some of these looks essentially as it ings of the saints and conversions were tem- Firearms See the park website for regulations. did in the mid-1700s as objects of adoration porary, the combined the mission’s center of were pop ular images religious training and Accessibility We strive to make our facilities, religious activ ity. Color- of Cath o l icism among Original interior paintings pag eantry were largely ful geometric designs the Indians. Mor ality re main at Mission Concep successful. services, and programs accessible to all. For in- once covering its sur- plays and religious cel- ción. Some are religious formation go to the visitor center, ask a ranger, face have long faded. ebrations were used symbols, while others are call, or check our website. for in struction. Mis- decorative, imitating archi sionaries recognized tectural elements. Congress created San Antonio Missions National Historical Park in 1978. By cooperative agree- ment with the Archdiocese of San Antonio, mis- San José sion churches remain active centers of worship. The National Park Service has cooperative agree- ments with the City of San Antonio, County of In 1720 Fray Antonio The size of the com- The mission residents Bexar, State of Texas, and San Antonio Conserva- Margil de Jesús found- plex testifies to San learned to use firearms ed the best known of José’s reputation as to fend off Comanche tion Society.