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 Spanish colonial society—among the frontier friars transferred a failed mission on the Rio presidio (fort), and settlement were the seeds among the inhab 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 adequate, so the Spanish San Antonio early recognized the missions’ the empire northward. Missions also offered had long attracted Spanish explorers. Noting 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 plorers northward across the Rio Grande. By Indians nearby, Fray Antonio Margil de Jesús missions represent a nearly unbroken con- the 1600s Spaniards penetrated areas to the Threatened by French encroachments from established 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 faded, 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 Anto 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 hunting 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 Coahuil tecans seeds gathered by the that were common to proved to be relatively pand Spanish culture nomic self-sufficiency. ing Mass, singing, phytes practiced their (kwa-weel-tekens). women and children many hunter-gatherer willing recruits for the to whatever lands the prayers, and religious catechism, usually in Ranging across today’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 morning 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 accepted Catholi were fine basket poverty, chastity, and stable economies. and Comanche Indians tant ranches. Women cism and actively took obedience, the Francis included mission 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 Spanish
ILLUSTRATION OF MISSION LIFE NPS/RICHARD WILLIAMS