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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.

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