Last month, the husband and I embark on an hour and a half road trip to San Antonio, Texas. It was a beautiful hot day. Our car had no window tints yet so it was as if we were directly positioned with the sun over our heads. Thank God for the invention SPF. :D
The mission was founded on February 23, 1720, because Mission San Antonio de Valero had become overcrowded shortly after its founding with refugees from the closed East Texas missions. Father Antonio Margil received permission from the governor of Coahuila and Texas, the Marquis de San Miguel de Aguayo, to build a new mission 5 miles (8 km) south of San Antonio de Valero.
Like San Antonio de Valero, Mission San José served the Coahuiltecan Indians. The first buildings, made of brush, straw, and mud, were quickly replaced by large stone structures, including guest rooms, offices, a dining room, and a pantry. A heavy outer wall was built around the main part of the mission, and rooms for 350 Indians were built into the walls.
Like San Antonio de Valero, Mission San José served the Coahuiltecan Indians. The first buildings, made of brush, straw, and mud, were quickly replaced by large stone structures, including guest rooms, offices, a dining room, and a pantry. A heavy outer wall was built around the main part of the mission, and rooms for 350 Indians were built into the walls.
A new church, which is still standing, was constructed in 1768 from local limestone. The mission lands were given to its Indians in 1794, and mission activities officially ended in 1824. After that, the buildings were home to soldiers, the homeless, and bandits. It was restored in the 1930s and is now part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
#FACT: Spanish missions were not churches, but communities, with the church the focus. Mission San José shows the visitor how all the missions might have looked over 250 years ago.
TOUR DETAILS
Mission San Jose is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It's closed on Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and January 1. The entrance to this historic park is free. You can also embark on a ranger-guided tour which usually lasts 45 - 60 minutes. To find out more check out their website at http://www.nps.gov/saan/planyourvisit/sanjose.htm.
Come on, let's check this place out!
PHOTO WALK
The first two photos below show the rooms built into the walls. This is where the Indians lived and spent their day to day living while the rest of the photos shows the church which is the focus of the community.
UP NEXT: Day Trip to San Antonio, Texas.
