• The churches of San Antonio were the heart of the Spanish colonal mission communities.

    San Antonio Missions

    National Historical Park Texas

History & Culture

Entrance gate into Mission Espada

Entrance gate into Mission Espada

In order to better understand what these walled, medieval communities were like, it is important to first learn about five important factors of the missions: the people, the church, farming, ranching, and caminos reals. Start your journey by clicking on the highlights shown to the right.

Links found on this page take you to research, management documents, and general information on the history and culture springing from the San Antonio Missions.

 

Reassessing Cultural Extinction: Change and Survival at Mission San Juan Capistrano, Texas, 2001

  • Church and State on the Frontier Church and State on the Frontier

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  • San Antonio Missions, their Beginnings San Antonio Missions, their Beginnings

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  • Mission Communities Mission Communities

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Did You Know?

Longhorn cattle evolved from 3 breeds of cattle that the Spanish imported in the 18th century.

that Texas longhorn cattle evolved from 3 breeds the Spanish imported to the Americas in the 17th and 18th centuries? They were the barrenda or piebald, the retinto, and ganado prieto. Modern longhorn have long legs and a narrow body - perfectly suited to travel long distances in dry, harsh country.