San Antonio Missions

San Antonio Missions are five Spanish colonial churches spread along the San Antonio River, featuring limestone walls, decorated facades, and farmland within their compounds. Together, they form a complex that preserved both religious and practical functions in its structures.

Spanish Franciscan priests founded these missions between 1718 and 1731 to convert indigenous populations and establish permanent settlements in Texas territory. They became important centers that served as places of faith and community for centuries afterward.

The missions show how Spanish and Native American traditions merged through their architecture, religious practices, and farming methods. You can still see this blend today in the decorated spaces and how communities use these places.

The National Park Service maintains four of the five missions, offering free admission, guided tours, and educational programs throughout the year. You can explore the sites at your own pace, with paths connecting the different missions along the river.

Mission Espada preserves the last working Spanish colonial aqueduct system in the United States. This old irrigation system shows the engineering skills used to support farming at the time.

Location: Texas

GPS coordinates: 29.32810,-98.46000

Latest update: December 8, 2025 13:41