Description:

Over the course of 13 years in the early 1700s, Spanish monks set up five missions in the San Antonio area in order to adopt Native Americans into Christianity and good Spanish citizenship. Today, four of these five missions are part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park: Mission Concepción, Mission San José, Mission San Juan and Mission Espada. Start a tour of these locations by visiting the Mission San José, where the visitor center is also located. At the visitor center are exhibits and displays of antique items from the missions, an educational film and further information about visiting the other missions managed by the park. Mission San José itself was completed in 1782 and is the largest of the Spanish churches contained within the park, often referred to as the "Queen of the Missions." Still an active church site, religious attendees are struck by the intricate carvings that give the structure a life of its own. Dotting sites along the San Antonio River, these sites are all south of the city but close enough to bicycle or even walk between, though driving is a quicker and preferred alternative for most visitors. Each site has daily guided tours that run at different times, offering a deeper look into the history and architecture of each unique church.