We all know about the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, but we may forget that it was first of all a mission of the Catholic Church. There were 6 missions scattered along the San Antonio River built in the 1730’s, and the missionary priests had two main objectives: to convert the local Indians to Catholicism; and to make them “good citizens of Spain.” This was of course the age of colonialism, as European nations tried to acquire as much territory in the New World as possible.
There were a number of Indian tribes in the area, and most were eager to join the priests at the missions because they provided shelter and food. But one group, the Apaches, resisted all efforts to “civilize” them, and waged war against the other tribes and the Spanish, who were trying to expand their territory north of Mexico. They decided to try to attract more European and American settlers to the area, and were very successful at this. By the 1830’s the conflicts had become between Mexico and the United States, as the settlers wanted to become part of the United States. All this led to the Mexican-American War, and the Battle of the Alamo.
Once all of the territory became part of the United States becoming eventually the states of Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and California, the influence of the missions faded away. But it never died completely, and 5 of the 6 missions still exist, 4 with worshipping congregations even today. They are interesting and beautiful structures, and I spent my last day in San Antonio visiting the 4 missions that are from 3 – 5 miles outside the city center.
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This mission shares it's name with the surrounding neighborhood.
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San Jose Mission.
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All of the missions make up a World Heritage Site.
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One of the gates.
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The outside wall - each mission was also a fortress and surrounded by a wall.
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The Indians lived in small apartments inside the walls.
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An outdoor oven.
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There was a church inside each fortified mission.
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Another gate.
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The grist mill was outside the walls.
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A lock to bring water to the mill.
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Inside the priest's quarters.
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Still original color on he walls.
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This is still an active church.
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The largest Sanctuary.
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The third gate.
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Flying buttresses.
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I like to think it looked like this outside each of the apartments back in the 18th and 19th centuries.
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A well.
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Inside an apartment.
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Each apartment had 2 rooms.
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Mission Espada.
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The walls are in ruins.
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And the church is also in ruins.
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But it once looked like this.
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Mission San Juan.
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A cross among the prickly pears.
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Some of the apartments remain.
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But much of the walls is in ruins.
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This church was beautiful
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Another active congregation.
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Mission Comcepcion.
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The quarry for the stone of the church.
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Another active congregation.
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No walls remain here now.
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The Mission Road connected all 6 missions in the 1700's, and can still be walked today.
