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Contact: Lauren Gurniewicz, 210/534-8875 ext 227
Find Your Park and Celebrate the 99th Birthday of the National Park Service San Antonio –The National Park Service is turning 99 years old on August 25 and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park wants you to join the party! Come to the Visitor Center at Mission San Jose, 6701 San Jose Drive, to enjoy birthday cake and participate in children's activities from 10:00 am-4:00 pm. Visitors are also encouraged to use this special day as an excuse to explore the park's four mission sites, which were recently designated a World Heritage Site. In preparation for next year's big centennial celebration, the National Park Service is inviting everyone to Find Your Park. To encourage people to discover everything a park experience can be, there is a fun list of 99 ways to Find Your Park. San Antonio Missions is a great place to try #3 –Be an urban hiker, #14 –Earn a Junior Ranger badge, or #75 –See history from a different perspective. Visitors can share their park experiences with others by posting on social media with the hashtag #FindYourPark. "Birthdays are a time to celebrate and we want everyone to join the party," said San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Superintendent Mardi Arce. "A visit to the park offers something for everyone, so I invite you to Find Your Park by participating in a ranger-guided program, taking a walk at one of the missions, or sharing your visit on social media." On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed legislation to create the National Park Service. Today, there are 408 national parks throughout the country and each one tells an important part of the American story. Some commemorate notable people and achievements, others conserve magnificent landscapes and natural wonders, and all provide a place to have fun and learn. And, on August 25, all national parks will offer free entrance for everyone. The mission of the National Park Service extends beyond park boundaries. Community partnerships help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. To see what is happening in Texas, go to www.nps.gov/TX. About San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. Much of San Antonio can trace its roots to the park's four missions, which are active Catholic parishes. Visitors from around the world come to experience Spanish Colonial mission life and learn how the Spanish transformed native cultures through language, religion, and a new way of life. The missions serve as reminders of how native people adapted and succeeded in their new world, creating the culturally diverse San Antonio of today. Learn more online and visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. -NPS- |
Last updated: August 20, 2015