Mission History
The Mission San José was founded in 1718 by Franciscan friars on land donated by Spanish settlers. It was the first of five missions in a region that became known as the Alamo Mission Trail.
“Queen of the Missions,” as it has become to be known, is the largest mission. It has been almost completely restored to its original layout in the 30s thanks to the Work Projects Administration (WPA). Spanish missions have been now no longer churches; however, groups with the church the focus.
Mission San José captures a transitional second in history, frozen in time. The Mission San José is a National Historic Landmark and one of Texas’s oldest surviving structures. Currently operated as a museum by the National Park Service, it is open to the public year-round. The mission was originally founded in 1716 by Fray Antonio de Olivares and Fray Francisco Hidalgo, Jesuit priests from Mexico.
The current structure was erected between 1761 and 1787, following the expulsion of the Spanish from Texas in 1821. It is one of three missions that still stand in Texas after the Mexican War of Independence (1810-1821) and the subsequent fight for independence from Mexico.
My visit
This was the second stop as part of the San Antonio Sightseeing Tour with Alfred. Still overcast and a little bit rainy. It was either that or the time of the year, but we had the whole place pretty much to ourselves.
From the history to the structures, he explained much about the Mission. Knowledgeable about all it had to offer. Given that we were the only ones, there was no rush. We spent almost two hours exploring every corner of the Mission. One thing I picked up on was that they never left the walls of the Mission. Self-sufficient. Up in the morning, out into the court to learn and practice religion. Then play and return to their “homes” to repeat after lunch and dinner.
Upon driving to the Mission, we drove through many of the historic streets. Stopping to learn about some of the homes of San Antonio and their history.
