News Release

2023 San Antonio Missions World Heritage Accomplishment Report

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Espada church bell tower and Pride of Barbados flowers.

NPS Photo / Andrew Shirey

News Release Date: April 2, 2024
Contact: Chantelle Ruidant-Hansen, [phone]

SAN ANTONIO — The 2023 World Heritage Annual Accomplishment Report celebrates the achievements of World Heritage Management Group and its primary partners toward the preservation and protection of San Antonio Missions World Heritage Site, the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. The World Heritage Management Group includes the National Park Service, the Archdiocese of San Antonio, San Antonio River Authority, the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, and the Texas General Land Office. Additionally, there are three primary partners: Mission Heritage Partners, Visit San Antonio, and the San Antonio Conservation Society.

San Antonio Missions is a chain of five eighteenth century Spanish colonial mission complexes. Located along a 12-mile length of the San Antonio River, the missions, with their supporting irrigation systems, workshops, farms, and ranches, grew into self-sustaining communities that became the foundation of San Antonio. Today, four of the mission churches continue to serve as active Catholic parishes. The UNESCO designated property consists of the five mission compounds, farm fields, irrigation systems, and a ranch site. Through interpretation, education, and preservation of the Spanish colonial site, we will ensure these sacred spaces endure for generations to come. To do this, we will continue to work as partners to manage, preserve, and share these treasures.

Previous annual reports can be found on our management webpage.

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2023 Annual Report

Click below to see the 2023 World Heritage Site Accomplishment Report.

Read the Report