The Post-Colonial Tufa House: A Historical Analysis from Construction to Present-Day Interpretations

Read here!

This article is based on an ArcGIS Story Map titled "The Post-Colonial Tufa House: An Analysis of the Tufa House's History at Mission San Juan, from Construction to Present-Day Interpretations". Click on each section below to access the associated parts of the ArcGIS StoryMap. 

---

Researched and written by Kaylee Holland, Student Conservation Association Intern 2023

---

The sections below chronicle Mission San Juan's history from conception (1731) to secularization (1790s and beyond). It traces land exchanges involving the Tufa House, which is named after its tufaceous limestone material, among private owners, the church, State of Texas, and National Park Service. The sections also delves into the Tufa House's architecture, historical occupants, uses, community impact, and summarizes 1980s and 1990s excavations and rehabilitation efforts.

Click on each section below to access the associated parts of the ArcGIS StoryMap.

Mission San Juan Capistrano before 2013 preservation and restoration.

NPS Photo

Mission San Juan: From Founding to Secularization

A historical overview spanning from 1731 to the era of secularization in 1826.

.A. Saucedo's Plat and Dulas for San Juan, 1823 (copy, 1873), Bexar County Courthouse, Deeds and Records, vol. W 2, 452-453

Bexar County Courthouse Deeds and Records

Owners of the Tufa House Property

A brief history of the land sale registries associated with the Tufa House Property after secularization.

Portrait of Francis Bouchu, undated

Reverend Francis Bouchu Papers, 1830-1930. Catholic Archives of Texas, Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops.

Father Francis Bouchu

Who was Father Bouchu and how extensive were his construction efforts at the San Antonio Missions?

Mission San Juan Post Colonial House Stabilization Project, 1984.

NPS Photo

Rehabilitation and Archeology at the Tufa House

An overview of the rehabilitation and archeological efforts associated with the Tufa House.

Harvey P. Smith partial elevation at Mission San Juan, 1933. Note, the addition of the partial shed roof on the north elevation.

University of Texas. Architectural Drawings Collection, Harvey P. Smith Drawings and Field Notes Collection. Austin.

Tufa House Architecture and Uses

The known uses of the Tufa House and an analysis of the structure's architecture.