Audio Description Version (text only)
Below is a text only version of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Brochure. This version is compatable with most screen reader software.
OVERVIEW: About this Audio-Described Brochure
Welcome to the audio-described version of San Antonio Missions National Historical Park's official print brochure. This is the audio-only, described version of the park’s official print brochure in English. The text in the print version is presented side-by-side in English and Spanish. Through text and audio descriptions of photos, illustrations, and maps, this version interprets the two-sided color brochure that San Antonio Missions National Historical Park visitors receive. The brochure explores the history of the park, some of its highlights, and information for planning your visit. This audio version lasts about 40 minutes, 38 seconds which we have divided into 30 sections, as a way to improve the listening experience. Sections 1-14 cover the front of the brochure and include information regarding the four sites within San Antonio Missions. Sections 15-30 cover the back of the brochure which consists of a navigation map, addressed and general park information. Other highlights include a bird, a Anole lizard, the River Walk trail, and the Alamo.
OVERVIEW: San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is located within the bustling urban environment of San Antonio, Texas. This urban-immersed national park, within the Department of the Interior draws both local and international visitors especially as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The park is situated on the Southside of San Antonio and was established in 1978. This park helps to protect and preserve four of the five Spanish colonial missions in San Antonio, Texas. Each year, over a million visitors come to enjoy the unique architecture and culture that can be seen here at the park. We invite you to explore the park's four mission sites and take in the natural and cultural beauty. For those seeking to learn more about the park during their visit, please visit the Visitor Center located at Mission San José. To find out more about what resources might be available or to contact the park directly, visit the Accessibility; and More Information; sections at the end of this audio-described brochure.
OVERVIEW: Front Side of Brochure
The front side of the San Antonio Missions brochure is oriented in a portrait layout, features a visually engaging and informative design that highlights the history, architecture, and cultural significance of the four missions within the park. The top section of the brochure has the title “San Antonio Missions” which is displayed in bold white lettering against a black background, accompanied by the National Park Service logo. Directly below is a large, scenic photograph of the ruins of Mission San José’s convento, with its stone arches framing the sky.
The middle section is divided into multiple text blocks and images, each providing information on the four missions: Mission Concepción, Mission San José, Mission San Juan and Mission Espada. Each mission is represented with a brief historical overview and a collage of photographs, showcasing their unique architectural features, such as domes, frescos, bell towers, and stone facades. The text highlights the Spanish colonial heritage of these missions, their role in the Indigenous communities, and their lasting cultural and religious significance. A bilingual format presents this information in both English and Spanish.
The bottom section contains additional historical context about the Spanish colonial period, the blending of Indigenous and European cultures, and the evolution of the missions over time. It also includes a detailed map of the five mission sites in San Antonio, showing their locations along the San Antonio River and their connection to other historic trails and settlements in Texas and beyond. A small inset map of North America highlights the broader geographical significance of the missions within Spanish colonial expansion. Overall, the brochure combines rich imagery, concise yet informative text, and a well-organized layout to educate visitors about the historical and cultural importance of San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
IMAGE: NPS Black Banner
DESCRIBING: A folded, color brochure featuring historical information.
SYNOPSIS: A 1-inch black bar runs across the top of the brochure when it is folded. The front features bold white lettering that reads "San Antonio Missions.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: On the front of the unfolded brochure, there is a 1-inch black bar that runs along the top and has text aligned on the left and right sides. Bold white lettering on the left reads San Antonio Missions. The right aligned text is smaller white print, and is grouped in two separate chunks situated next to one another. The left text reads San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and the right text reads National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. These text segments are printed to the left of the National Park Service arrowhead.
The brown, green and white National Park Service arrowhead logo points down. At the top right of the logo, white text, says “National Park Service” in capital letters. On the left, a tall Sequoia tree stands and at the bottom, a white bison stands on a green field ending in a distant tree line, with a lake at the right. A snow-capped mountain towers behind the tree line.
OVERVIEW: Back Side of Brochure
The back side of the San Antonio Missions Unigrid brochure is oriented in a landscape layout, this side primarily serves as an informational map and guide for visitors. At the top, bold text and logos indicate the park’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reinforcing its global significance. The layout is divided into sections, with a large, detailed map occupying the majority of the space. This map highlights the locations of the four missions—Mission Concepción, Mission San José, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada—along with their relative positions along the San Antonio River. Various symbols indicate key points of interest, such as visitor centers, picnic areas, and trails, providing an easy-to-follow visual representation of the park’s layout.
Additional sections offer practical visitor information, including accessibility considerations, safety guidelines, and transportation details. There are notes about the active religious use of the mission churches, advising visitors to be respectful during services. Another section outlines the historic acequia irrigation systems that are still in use today, emphasizing their role in mission agriculture. Integrated in the design are two commonly found animals in the park: a scissor-tailed flycatcher in flight, and a green anole, a small lizard sitting on a text box.
The brochure also highlights how the missions are integrated into urban San Antonio, mentioning the River Walk extension known as the Mission Reach Hike and Bike Trail. This trail connects the missions, allowing visitors to explore them by foot or bike. Spanish translations are included throughout, ensuring accessibility for a broader audience. Decorative elements, such as tile patterns inspired by historical designs, frame the content, visually linking the past with the present. Overall, the back side of the unigrid effectively blends historical context, navigation tools, and visitor resources into a well-organized, informative layout.
IMAGE and TEXT: Convento
DESCRIBING: A horizontal image of historical stone arches
SYNOPSIS: Three large rounded arches make up the foreground, with multiple layers of stone walls creating a rhythmic pattern against a bright sky.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The foreground wall, built with rough earth-colored limestone, sandstone and gritty mortar, shows three large, evenly spaced rounded arches. Through each arch, the blue sky punctuated by fluffy white clouds can be seen. Behind this wall stands another stone structure featuring five smaller, pointed arches. To the left, two of these pointed arches align behind the left rounded arch; the center rounded arch frames a single pointed arch, while one and a portion of another pointed arches peek through the right rounded arch. Completing the scene, a third wall constructed with similar rugged earth-colored stones and gritty mortar is visible, blending harmoniously with the bright sky above.
CAPTION: Mission San José, original walls of convento (priests’ quarters)
CREDIT: Copyright SANDRA RAMOS
TEXT: Welcome to the missions of San Antonio, Texas. Each mission in this national historical park is a center of community, and has been since the early 1700s. They changed life in this region, introducing new technologies while enforcing new cultural guidelines.Many San Antonio residents trace their family heritage to these missions. Each has its own character and offers different perspectivesof life in the past. Visit all four if you can. As you explore, reflect on change, culture, power, and how people have used the land around us.
IMAGE and TEXT: Mission Concepción
DESCRIBING: A group of three color photographs, depicting art and architecture at Mission Concepción.
SYNOPSIS: On the front side, below the One Park – Four Mission Communities text segment is a row of eight rectangular images and two elliptical images divided into four groups. From left to right, the groups Mission Concepción, Mission San José, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada. This is Mission Concepción, the first in the grouping.
A group of three images on the far left depict architecture and art found at Mission Concepción. Two of the pictures are rectangular in shape and the third is a small oval. The left image depicts the symmetrical facade of the church, and the image on the right is a view of a covered arched walkway. A small elliptical image is positioned in the middle overlapping the tops of these two pictures and features a restored fresco of a bright colored sun with a human face.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Mission Concepción: The left image in this group depicts the symmetrical front of the church and a building to its right. These two structures stand tall above a field of bright green grass and in front of a clear blue sky. A large green tree that is partially cut out of the shot can be seen to the left of the structures. The image was taken at a slight angle, revealing a bright white dome behind the church’s entrance. The front of the church is a symmetrical rectangular two-story building that is constructed of smooth grey colored stone that has black downward streaking from the top. Three small rectangular windows are visible on the front: two positioned vertically on the left third of the structure and one the right third. A brown wooden door with carved grid-like patterns and a curved top is positioned in the bottom center of the building. Surrounding this door is a tall decorative facade, made of detailed carved white stone in two distinct segments: a boxed section surrounding the doorway and a triangular portion directly above. The facade around the doorway is made of four columns, two on either side that rise a few feet above the door. Directly above these columns is an equilateral triangle that has carved borders, and a large circular window on the top. In the center of the triangle are indistinguishable carvings around a stone pedestal capped with a cross. Two small, six-pane arched windows are positioned to the left and right of the triangular facade. Two large identical cubic bell towers rise above the left and right thirds of the church entrance. On each side of the structure, an arched opening reveals the interior of the belfry. Each tower has a low-pitched hipped roof that resembles a pyramid, and is capped with a cubic stone pinnacle adorned with a metal cross. Small pointed pinnacles rise above each corner of the roof. A rectangular cornice lines each tower below the roof while rectangular moulding adorns the bottom. Arched openings are visible on each side of the bell towers. The building to the right of the church entrance is also constructed of grey stones, but unlike the church, gritty earth colored mortar can be seen between each rock. The flat rectangular building appears to be larger, but only a portion is seen within the frame of the photograph. Two thick buttresses support the left side of the wall and a large arched open doorway is visible on the right half, revealing a terracotta-colored floor and green metal bench.The elliptical image in between the two rectangular pictures is a close up shot of a restored fresco found at Mission Concepción. It depicts a colorful sun with a human face on a cracking cream colored background. Uneven fading and chipping distorts the fresco and makes some elements hard to discern. The sun is painted as a centered red circle, bordered by a thick blue band with a forward facing human face in the bottom half of the red circle. The face is made of two thin black, curved eyebrows above a pair of bright white almond shaped eyes with black circular pupils. A curled black mustache is slightly visible below the eyes. Thirteen jagged golden rays extend from the red and blue circle in an unorganized fashion. Behind the sun is a thick horizontal red band that is bordered by a thin yellow line, which itself is bordered by a thin blue line. The last image in the group, on the right, is a shot of a covered arched walkway constructed of earth-colored stones and gritty grey mortar. The perspective is taken from one end of the corridor, looking down towards a solid wall with a central brown wooden door that features delicate geometric carvings. Three arched openings vertically line the right side of the walkway as light pours in, creating horizontal shadows on a terracotta floor. A metal bench can be seen in the opening at the far end of the hallway. The piers in between the arches create ribbed horizontal arching across the ceiling that meet with a solid wall on the left side of the corridor. The sides of two rectangular doorways can be seen lining this wall with a black metal lantern extending to the right of each entrance. The lantern at the far end of the hallway is electrically illuminated. CAPTION: Original church and walkway, restored fresco.
CREDIT: CHURCH AND FRESCO—NPS / JT FINEART PHOTOGRAPHYRELATED
TEXT: Experience the strength and beauty of a Spanish colonial building. This is one of the oldest unrestored stone churches in the United States. Surviving frescoes (above center) use symbols of both the Indigenous people and the Catholic religion.
IMAGE and TEXT: Mission San José
DESCRIBING: A pair of rectangular color photographs depicting architecture found at Mission San José.
SYNOPSIS: This is Mission San José, the second in the One Park - Four Mission Communities grouping. A pair of rectangular images depict architecture found at Mission San José. The left image depicts the elaborate front façade of the asymmetrical church while the image on the right provides a close up view of the Baroque ornamented Rose’s Window.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The image on the left depicts the front entrance of a church that stands tall above a field of bright green grass and in front of a clear blue sky. A large green tree that is majorly cut out of the shot, is seen in the distance to the left of the church. The photograph was taken at a sharp angle, revealing additional building features including a dome, buttresses, a small window, and protruding rooms. The front entrance of the church is an asymmetrical rectangular two story structure with a singular right bell tower, constructed out of rough grey colored limestones that have dark grey downward streaking from the top. Four small windows are visible on the front of the church spaced evenly and vertically aligned on the left and right side of the building. A curved brown wooden door, decorated with a carved grid-like pattern, is positioned in the bottom center of the building. Surrounding the door is a tall, ornately carved white stone facade that spans the entire height of the building and is divided into two distinct segments - one that surrounds the doorway and the other that extends above.
The façade around the doorway is rectangular in shape and is decorated with mostly indistinguishable carvings and two religious statues that are positioned on the upper left and right side of the door. Horizontal molding separates the bottom half of the façade from the top, which is highly decorated and contains carved features that are too distant to identify. A six-pane oval window, surrounded by three religious statues (one on the left, right, and top respectively) is situated in the middle of this section, with a stone cross capping this brilliant architectural feature. A large ornate bell tower rises well above the right third of the front entrance. Its features are hard to distinguish, but it stands upon a molded pedestal and has a belfry constructed of four high and thin arches that are crowned with a steeply pitched hipped roof that resembles a pyramid. Four pointed pinnacles rise above each corner of the roof as a large cross caps the tower;The right picture of this pair of images depicts a close up shot of an ornately carved window known as Rose’s Window. Not to be confused with a traditional rose window, this architectural feature is carved out of white chalk that is surrounded by a wall of irregular earth colored stones and thick gritty grey mortar. Two vertical twenty pane windows are bordered by a barbed quatrefoil that resembles a clover and is surrounded by delicately carved baroque style decorations. These decorative features depict an array of carved leaves, flowers, berries, and other nature inspired elements that fill a rectangular space around the window. A short metal fence with thin vertical bars extends across the bottom part of the picture.
CAPTION: Restored church, Rose Window.
CREDIT:CHURCH—NPS / Copyright JT FINEART PHOTOGRAPHYRELATED TEXT: Come here to experience the daily life of mission residents. Explore quarters where Indigenous and Spanish mission residents lived. San José is the most complete and reconstructed mission.
IMAGE and TEXT: Mission San Juan
DESCRIBING: Mission San Juan: A group of three color photographs, depicting architecture and agriculture at Mission San Juan.
SYNOPSIS: This is Mission San Juan, the third in the One Park - Four Mission Communities grouping. A group of three images depict architecture and agriculture found at Mission San Juan. Two of the pictures are rectangular in shape and the third is a small oval. The left image depicts two men hunched over a green plant growing in a lush field and the image on the right is a view of the white plaster mission church. A small elliptical image is positioned in between the tops of these two pictures and features a dark stone entrance gate.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The first image in the group, on the left, is a contemporary picture of two men hunched over a green multi-leaf plant in rich brown soil surrounded by rows of raised garden beds filled with similar plants. In the distance, a field of tall yellow and green grass stretching out to a thick tree line can be seen below a bright white clouded sky. The person on the left is a young man with buzzed dark hair and tanned skin. He is wearing a plain white t-shirt, light blue jeans, red tennis shoes with white laces, and black gardening gloves. He is bent over at the waist and holding the top a green multi-leafed plant that reaches his knees. The second man is crouching to the right, and extends his left arm to examine the stems of the plant being held. This individual is a tall young white man, wearing a plain white t-shirt, white gym shorts, red tennis shoes with white laces, a red ball cap with a black brim, and black gardening gloves.
The elliptical image in between the two rectangular pictures is a photo of a thick, heavy wooden gate open to the right in a recessed stone wall that is weathered and grayed with age. A light brown squiggly line of mortar stretches above the square doorway that is constructed of uneven dark brown stones. The square wooden gate is composed of open blocks in a grid pattern, roughly five blocks wide and six blocks high. This can be seen through an arch constructed of rough light and dark brown stones that extends down to a white gravel walkway which leads out to a dark green forested area.
The last image in the group, on the right, is a vertical picture of a single story thick rectangular, white plastered church that takes up most of the frame. The building stands above a field of dark green grass and in front of a clear dark blue sky. A large green tree can be seen behind the right side of the church, but a majority of it has been cropped out of the photo. The church is a simple construction displaying three recessed enclosed archways on the lower section with a protruding buttress dividing the two arches on the right. A simple wooden door stands inside the middle archway and is surrounded by grey stained plaster. Above these enclosed arches is a bare expanse of plastered stone roughly the same height as the lower section. The building is adorned with a two tiered bell gable, which is constructed of three stacked identical arches. Two of these arches stand side-by-side on the bottom, and both contain a bell. Short, curved decorations lined with two circles press up against the sides of these arches and resemble bookends. The third arch sits above and between the lower arches and also contains a bell. Two pointed pinnacles stand to the left and right of the top arch, which itself is capped with three additional pointed ornaments and a simple metal cross.
CAPTION: San Antonio Food Bank volunteers planting, mission entrance gate, church.
CREDIT: VOLUNTEERS—SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK; CHURCH—NPS / JUSTINE HANRAHAN; GATE—NPS / MELINDA SCHMITTRELATED TEXT: Explore mission agriculture at San Juan. Walk past the reproduction corral to fields irrigated by the historic acequia system. Pass through the gate and imagine traveling El Camino Real de los Tejas (Royal Road of Texas). (See map.)
IMAGE and TEXT: Mission Espada
DESCRIBING: A pair of rectangular colored pictures depicting architecture and community gatherings at Mission Espada.
SYNOPSIS: This is Mission Espada, the fourth in the One Park - Four Mission Communities grouping.
A pair of two vertical photographs depict a social gathering and architecture at Mission Espada. The contemporary picture on the left features a gathering of people in folding chairs in the foreground, and an aged stone church in the distance standing to the right of a row of arches. The photograph on the right features a close up of the front and side walls of the same aged stone church.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The first image, on the left, is a contemporary photograph of a naturalization ceremony that features a group of people seated in the foreground and stone structures of Mission Espada in the distance. There is a gathering of around 20 people seated in foldable chairs facing a man in a dark suit who stands in front of them. A line of people dressed in military uniforms and an American flag stand to the left of the suited man while a Texas flag stands a sizable distance from his right. The gathering takes place on a bright green lawn with yellow and green trees creating shadows above the crowd. In the distance, the front of a stone church can be seen on the right and a row of red brick arches extends to the left. The church and arches are made of light beige and pinkish stones that appear to be weathered with brown and grey streaks over time. A bell gable, made of three stacked arches, rises above the front of the church. A small bell surrounded by a blue sky can be seen within each opening. The second photograph, to the right, depicts a close up view of the façade and right wall of the Mission Espada church. The simple church features a variety of stones and bricks that have aged over time, revealing a range of tones from weathered light and dark grey to pink and brown. An ornate Moorish style stone arch around the outside of a wooden door is positioned in the bottom center of the front entrance. The wooden door opens in the center and has square and rectangular shapes carved onto its face. A potted plant sits on either side of the door. Rising above the front entrance is a two tiered bell gable, which is constructed of three stacked identical arches. Two of these arches stand side-by-side on the bottom, and both contain a bell suspended by a wooden beam. Short curved decorations lined with two circles press up against the sides of these arches, and resemble bookends. The third arch, which is constructed of aged red brick, sits above and between the lower arches. It contains a bell that is resting above a wooden platform and is capped with a simple metal cross. Two pointed pinnacles stand to the left and right of the top arch. The visible side wall to the right side is only about one story high, and features an arched window in the middle with stones surrounded by a light colored grout. CAPTION: Naturalization ceremony, church.
CREDIT: CEREMONY—© JT FINEART PHOTOGRAPHY; CHURCH—NPS / JUSTINE HANRAHAN
RELATED TEXT: Once remote, Espada nestles within a modern neighborhood. The original acequia still flows through the community. This continuity of history is one reason the missions of San Antonio are recognized as a World Heritage Site.
IMAGE and TEXT: Imperial Times, Emerging Cultures
DESCRIBING: An aerial color photograph of the historic mission.
SYNOPSIS: This is an aerial image that captures an expansive view of the restored Mission San José Compound and its surrounding landscape.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: This image is an aerial photograph of the historic and restored Mission San Jose landscape and interior compound. The mission church is white, gray and tan with its weathered limestone walls, intricate architectural details, and partially ruined façade, standing prominently in the upper central portion of the image. The church has a large dome and remnants of arched windows, with some sections appearing more intact than others.
The mission complex is enclosed by a fortified rectangular double wall, which appears to be constructed from stone, with walkways lining the inside. The left side of the wall is gray and shifts to dark and light terracotta hues on the bottom and right side of the walls. These long, rectangular corridors provide a sense of the mission’s original defensive structure.
The expansive central courtyard is filled with shades of green and brown grass and dotted with a mix of shrubs and large green trees, creating a serene and open environment. Pathways crisscross the courtyard, leading from the mission church to various outbuildings and entrances.
Towards the bottom left of the image, is a partially visible road and two trees outside of the walled compound. In the background, beyond the mission walls in the top right of the photo, modern structures and parked vehicles are visible, indicating that this historic site exists within an urban setting. The transition from the preserved mission grounds to the surrounding developed area highlights the contrast between past and present. The image has slightly faded edges to soften the border.
CREDIT: Copyright EDWARD A. ORNELAS / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS VIA ZUMA PRESS WIRE
RELATED TEXT: Difficult Choices
Today you can see components of Indigenous cultures in the frescoes, food, clothing, and customs of the missions. Parishes at all four mission churches are still active. Over centuries, Indigenous and Spanish cultures melded into multifaceted modern San Antonio cultures.
In the 1700s, Spain was building an empire, occupying lands to the south, east, and west of here. The Spanish maintained their territory through the mission system and introduced Indigenous peoples to Spanish beliefs and way of life.
Some people entered the missions to escape drought, disease, and conflict with other indigenous groups. Potters, tool- makers, hunters, and other skilled people brought their experience and knowledge. Residents learned new skills from the Spanish, such as managing ranches. They also began to lose elements of their own languages and religions.
More Than a Church. An aerial view of the restored Mission San José (pictured) shows its finished size. The walls had rooms for living, working, and storing food. The church remained the community center long after the walls and other structures were dismantled to build the surrounding community.
Ruins and native prairie at Rancho de las Cabras are all that remain of the mission ranches (photo right). Young men from Mission Espada tended cabras (goats), horses, sheep, and cows on its 4,000 acres. At one time, the ranch had a chapel and high walls for protection.
IMAGE: Brand
DESCRIBING: Image of a historic cattle brand.
SYNOPSIS: Image displaying a historic cattle brand associated with Mission Espada’s Rancho de las Cabras. The symbol consists of a vertical line with a curved hook. A horizontal line crosses near the top, forming a cross shape, and a design that extends into a diamond shape.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: This is an image of a historic cattle brand associated with Mission Espada’s Rancho de las Cabras. It displays a black symbol to resemble the iron metal, consisting of a vertical line with a curved hook at the bottom, similar to a shepherd’s crook or an anchor. A horizontal line crosses near the top, forming a cross shape. Above this cross, the design extends into a diamond shape, creating a unique and recognizable emblem. The roughness of the image suggests an aged or historical branding iron. This brand was used to mark livestock belonging to the mission, signifying ownership and identification in Spanish colonial Texas.
CAPTION: The ranch brand
CREDIT:NPS / MELINDA SCHMITT
IMAGE: Ruins at Rancho de las Cabras
DESCRIBING: Colorful photograph of stones and plants.
This photo shows a rough stacked outcropping of sandstones and bright yellow wildflowers growing among them. The rocks are rugged and have a reddish-brown hue, providing a contrast to the vibrant yellow flowers. In the background, there are blurry, leafless tree branches set against a clear blue sky, indicating a dry, possibly desert-like environment. The scene is sunny invoking the feeling of a warm summer day.
CAPTION: Ruins at Rancho de las Cabras
CREDIT: Copyright JT FINEART PHOTOGRAPHY
MAP: Four Among Many
DESCRIBING: A map of South Texas showing locations of historic missions.
SYNOPSIS: This image is a political map of South Texas and Northern Mexico, indicating historical mission locations, particularly the San Antonio Missions. It takes up the bottom section of the brochure with the majority of its context on the left side. The map highlights several mission locations marked with small mission icons, and the El Camino Real de los Tejas, a historic trail that ran through the area.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: This image is a political map showing historic mission locations and trails of South Texas and Northern Mexico. The states of both countries are labeled in a transparent light grey text in all capital block fonts including: Texas, Louisiana, Coahuila, Nuevo León and Tamaulipas. The Rio Grande river is clearly shown to indicate the Texas - Mexico border. City locations are labeled in smaller black text. At the center of the map is a list titled “San Antonio Missions” in bold black text with a listing of six historical sites that were in San Antonio. Green text and labels indicate the four missions that make up the national historical park. Brown text and labels indicate the other Spanish mission sites. Framing the left side of the list, is a vertical black bar, extending from this bar is another small horizontal line pointing to San Antonio on the map to show that these missions were all located there.
Each mission location pictured on the map throughout the region is marked with a small mission icon and labeled. The El Camino Real de los Tejas,is shown with light grey dashed lines, indicating the historical trade routes into Mexico. The El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail is located by darker brown dashed lines. The Nueces River is shown snaking through south Texas and feeding into the Rio Grande river. The San Antonio River, beginning near San Antonio, and the Brazos River just East of San Antonio both continue southeast to the Gulf of Mexico.
Moving from west to east with shades from splotches of light orange to light green portraying the land transition from semi-arid desert climate to a more lush landscape. Mountains in Mexico are highlighted with patches of green, moving up from light to dark indicating the height of the mountain.
In the center of the map, over the Gulf of Mexico, labeled in light blue, a legend is provided. The legend includes the symbols and descriptive labels of the missions on the map, trails, and a dual-scale bar showing increments of 100 in both kilometers and miles.
The Gulf of Mexico is to the east, and nearby major cities including San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Brownsville and Laredo in the United States, and Monclova and Monterrey in Mexico are labeled.
Text on the left of the map explains the significance of these missions and their historical context, provided in both English and Spanish.
CAPTION: Four Among Many
The four missions of this national historical park (names in green on the map) were among many established by Spain. In Texas, missions were on or near rivers and the branching trade routes of El Camino Real de los Tejas.
MAP: New Spain
DESCRIBING: A colored Map highlighting the territory of New Spain in the 1700’s.
SYNOPSIS: This image is of a map of the North American continent highlighting the territory of New Spain, the Spanish occupation in the Americas in the 1700s.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: In the right corner of the brochure, and to the right of the map of South Texas, is a historic, geographic map image of the North American continent. The color of the land mass varies by political boundary, serving as the background of this map is the Gulf of Mexico. White block font labels the locations. In the map, the area labeled "New Spain (in 1700s)" spans parts of present-day Mexico, the southwestern United States, Florida and Cuba, shaded in a light transparent terracotta color to indicate Spanish occupation. A darker hued strip of the same terracotta color creates a boldly defined boundary around the border. Above the “New Spain” (in 1700s)” area is the present-day United States shaded in a light transparent yellow. The border of Mexico (Present-day); is indicated as a separate area by a thin gray dividing line, labeled in italics with an arrow pointing to the “present-day boundary” labeled in the same gray color. Both countries’ colors are slightly transparent, allowing the underlying terrain to be made visible; Mountain ranges are indicated by textured sections, the Appalachian Mountains on the right and the Rocky Mountains on the left. The San Antonio Missions National Historical Park; location is noted with a green dot and green text within the territory of New Spain, in Texas, USA. The map provides a historical perspective, showing how territories were divided during Spanish occupation compared to the present-day boundaries. The top and bottom of the map begin to fade at the edges of the image into the blue color of the Gulf of Mexico.
CAPTION: New Spain
Compare the land held by Spain in the 1700s to Mexico and the United States today. The modern boundary was set by the US- Mexican War of 1846–48.
IMAGE: Ethel Harris Tiles
DESCRIBING: A thin rectangular tile pattern illustration
SYNOPSIS: This square tile pattern showcases a repeated, vibrant and symmetrical design that combines floral and geometric elements.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The decorative pattern features hand-made tiles with a symmetrical design that integrates stylized plants and geometric shapes. Yellow, red, and turquoise dominate the tiles, with additional touches of orange and green providing shading. The layout presents a continuous and uniform appearance, enhanced by the warm reddish-brown background which contrasts with the bright colors. The hand-made quality is evident in the slight variations and organic lines of the shapes.
CAPTION: Tiles by Ethel Harris. Her 1956 house, next to Mission San José, is in the National Register of Historic Places.
CREDIT: NPS / Copyright JT FINEART PHOTOGRAPHY
TEXT: Exploring the Past Today
The missions are woven into the urban fabric of San Antonio.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park represents a historical merging of cultures that created an identity neither wholly Indigenous nor wholly Spanish. This identity persists in the community to this day. The park is part of a World Heritage Site that draws visitors from around the world.
The park follows the San Antonio River from downtown through the southside communities, weaving the mission story through the neighborhoods. Around the city, modern murals and tile work evoke creativity and imagination from past centuries.
IMAGE: Mission Concepción
DESCRIBING: A horizontal color photo of the Mission Concepción church.
SYNOPSIS: The photograph displays the church and ruined secondary buildings of Mission Concepción, that stand above a bright green lawn and are surrounded by a cloudy sky.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: This landscape photo depicts the symmetrical front of the church and a group of ruined buildings to its right. These two structures stand tall above a field of bright green grass and in front of a heavily cloudy sky. A large green palm tree stands tall in front of the church and is growing to the left of a stone well. In the distance, to the left of the church, a building is hidden by a line of trees of various fullness. The image was taken at a slight angle, revealing a grey dome with dark streaking behind the church’s entrance. The front of the church is a symmetrical rectangular two-story building that is constructed of smooth grey colored stone that has black downward streaking from the top. Three small rectangular windows are visible on the front: two positioned vertically on the left third of the structure and one on the right third. A brown wooden door with carved grid-like patterns and a curved top is positioned in the bottom center of the building. Surrounding this door is a tall decorative façade, made of detailed carved white stone in two distinct segments: a boxed section surrounding the doorway and a triangular portion directly above. The façade around the doorway is made of four columns, two on either side that rise a few feet above the door. Directly above these columns is an equilateral triangle that has carved borders, and a large circular window on the top. In the center of the triangle are indistinguishable carvings around a stone pedestal capped with a cross. Two small, six-pane arched windows are positioned to the left and right of the triangular façade. Two large identical cubic bell towers rise above the left and right thirds of the church entrance. On each side of the structure, an arched opening reveals the interior of the belfry. Each tower has a low-pitched hipped roof that resembles a pyramid, and is capped with a cubic stone pinnacle adorned with a metal cross. Small pointed pinnacles rise above each corner of the roof. A rectangular cornice lines each tower below the roof while rectangular moulding adorns the bottom. The building to the right of the church entrance is rectangular and is constructed of grey stones, but unlike the church, gritty earth colored mortar can be seen between each rock. It has a rounded terracotta colored roof with wooden gutters extending out from the building. A large arched open doorway is visible, revealing a terracotta-colored floor and metal bench. This structure connects to a series of ruined walls that have been weathered with age and erosion. One wall extends to the forefront of the image and a squared doorway is visible on its center, revealing a grass covered interior.
CAPTION: 807 Mission Road. Closest to the city center. Original buildings, architectural features, and frescoes. Established 1731.
CREDIT: NPS / Copyright JT FINEART PHOTOGRAPHY
IMAGE: Mission San José
DESCRIBING: A horizontal color photograph of the Mission San José church.
SYNOPSIS: The tall, elaborately designed church of Mission San José stands in front of a brilliant blue sky.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The landscape photo depicts the front entrance of the church that stands tall above a field of bright green grass and in front of a clear blue sky. A distant line of dark green trees can be seen in the background, while three large live oaks stand nearby - one to the left of the church, the other to the right, and the third above the camera only revealing its branches in the top of the frame. The photograph was taken at a sharp angle, revealing additional building features including an impressive dome capped with a metal cross, buttresses, scattered small windows, and protruding rooms. The front structure of this two story church is asymmetrical and is constructed of rough grey colored stones that have dark grey downward streaking from the top. Four small windows are visible on the front of the church- spaced evenly and vertically aligned on the left and right side of the building. A curved brown wooden door, decorated with a carved grid-like pattern is positioned in the bottom center of the building. Surrounding the door is a tall, ornately carved white stone façade that spans the entire height of the structure and is divided into two distinct segments - one that surrounds the doorway and the other that extends above.
The façade around the doorway is rectangular in shape and is decorated with indistinguishable carvings and two religious statues that are positioned on the upper left and right side of the door. Horizontal molding separates the bottom half of the façade from the top, which is highly decorated and contains carved features that are too distant to identify. A six-pane oval window, surrounded by three religious statues (one on the left, right, and top respectively) is situated in the middle of this section, with a stone cross capping this brilliant architectural feature. A large ornate bell tower rises well above the right third of the front entrance. Its features are hard to distinguish, but it stands upon a molded pedestal and has a belfry constructed of four high and thin arches that are crowned with a steeply pitched hipped roof that resembles a pyramid. Four pointed pinnacles rise above each corner of the roof and a large cross caps the tower.
CAPTION: 6701 San José Drive. Known as the “Queen of the Missions.” The most complete and reconstructed mission in the park. Established 1720.
CREDIT: NPS / Copyright JT FINEART PHOTOGRAPHY
IMAGE: Mission San Juan
DESCRIBING: A horizontal color photograph of the Mission San Juan church.
SYNOPSIS: The stark white church of Mission San Juan stretches across the photo, set against a lush green field and azure sky.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: This landscape photo depicts a thick rectangular, single story, white plastered church that takes up most of the frame. The building stands above a field of dark green grass and in front of a mostly clear dark blue sky. A line of large dark green trees can be seen behind the church, and a few scattered brushy green plants grow along the bottom of the white walls. A grey gravel walkway cuts through the grassy field and extends past the frames of the image. The church is a simple construction displaying five recessed enclosed archways on the lower section with a protruding buttress dividing the two arches on the right. Two simple wooden doorways are present along the wall, one standing in the middle of the second archway and the other in the middle of the fourth. Above these enclosed arches is a bare expanse of plastered stone roughly the same height as the lower section. A thick earth colored stone wall protrudes out from the far right of the church and joins a low to the ground wall that is nearly out of view of the frame. Rising above the right side of the building is a two tiered bell gable, which is constructed of three stacked identical arches. Two of these arches stand side-by-side on the bottom, and both contain a bell. Short curved decorations lined with two circles press up against the sides of these arches, and resemble bookends. The third arch sits above and between the lower arches and also contains a bell. Two pointed pinnacles stand to the left and right of the top arch, which itself is capped with three additional pointed ornaments and a simple metal cross.
CAPTION: 9101 Graf Road. Original farm fields irrigated by an acequia (photo, right). Established 1731.
CREDIT: NPS / JUSTINE HANRAHAN
IMAGE: Mission Espada
DESCRIBING: A color photograph of the Mission Espada church.
SYNOPSIS: The historic church of Mission Espada, stands prominently with its distinctive stone and brick architecture, surrounded by greenery.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: This landscape photo depicts the historic church of Mission Espada, an elongated structure from the front to the back, that stands in front of a light blue sky. Bright green grass and a handful of green and bare trees surround the landscape, and provide a stark contrast to the earth-colored architecture. The photo was taken at a sharp angle that reveals the front and side walls of the church.
The church is constructed of a blend of brown, white, and gray stones that are weathered with age and interspersed with hints of red bricks. A grey walkway, bordered by a low stone wall to its left, extends from the bottom of the frame to the front wall of the building. The entrance boasts a Moorish-style trefoil archway, which resembles a cloverleaf, that stands roughly 10 feet high. A brown elaborately carved wooden door with geometric patterns, can be seen within the archway. A dark green potted plant stands to the left and right of this doorway. The top of the church entrance features a two-tiered bell gable, which is constructed of three stacked identical arches. Two of these arches stand side-by-side on the bottom, and both contain a bell. Short curved decorations lined with two circles press up against the sides of these arches, and resemble bookends. The third arch sits above and between the lower arches and also contains a bell and is capped with a simple metal cross. Two pointed pinnacles stand to the left and right of the top arch. The elongated right wall stretches out to a protruding connected room that features a tall arched window on its right ride. Two additional arched windows, along with two rain gutters that stretch away from the building can be seen along the main wall.
To the left of the church, a single story arched wall can be seen extending towards a secondary rectangular building. A long narrow window can be seen on the outward facing wall of this structure, while a larger arched 12-pane window faces inwards towards the church. A grassy courtyard with numerous potted plants scattered around separates this secondary structure from the church.
CAPTION: 10040 Espada Road. The park’s southern- most mission. Its ranch, Rancho de las Cabras in nearby Wilson County, is also part of the park. Established 1731.
CREDIT: NPS / Copyright JT FINEART PHOTOGRAPHY
IMAGE: Flycatcher
DESCRIBING: A small image of a scissor tailed flycatcher.
SYNOPSIS: The image shows a scissor tailed flycatcher in mid-flight.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The image shows a scissor tailed flycatcher in mid-flight, viewed from below. The open wings are brown closer to the body, transitioning out to white feathers with black outlines towards the end. The body of the bird is slender and white fading into a rust color where the wings meet the body. The head is white with a black eye, small black beak, and black mask that runs from the eye to the beak. The bird’s full black tail is framed by two remarkably long white feathers with black tips. Its name is derived from these feathers which form a shape resembling open scissors. The overall posture is dynamic and graceful. The bird is superimposed on the tan background of the brochure with a subtle drop shadow.
CAPTION: Scissor tailed-flycatcher
CREDIT: Copyright Ken Slade
IMAGES: Watering a Dry Land
DESCRIBING: Two colored images side by side. Two colored images side by side.
SYNOPSIS: A two-panel image juxtaposing modern and Spanish colonial water management techniques. The left panel shows a person adjusting a sluice gate to control the flow of an acequia or irrigation canal. The right image showcases a rustic stone bridge over a shallow stream and grassy hillside.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Two images are juxtaposed, separated by a strip of pale gray-blue background. The border of the images is a similar gray blue, and the edges on all sides are slightly blurred, creating a fuzzy appearance.
The left photograph captures a male park ranger with light complexion wearing a green flat-brimmed cap and a gray short-sleeved shirt. He is using a wooden panel called a sluice gate to modulate the flow of the shallow, murky acequia, or irrigation ditch. The ditch flows through a designed concrete structure. The ranger is leaning over, with his left-hand bracing on the concrete wall, and his right hand lifting the panel using a handle cut into the wood. The bottom ¾ of the board is wet, indicating it was submerged to that level before being lifted up to allow the water to flow. The setting is lush with tall grasses and riparian bushes.
In contrast, the right photograph shows an aged, stone bridge made of weathered limestone and sandstone with two arched supports crossing a narrow stream. The stream runs horizontally across the lower portion of the image. The bridge, known as the Espada Aqueduct, extends from further away on the left to closer on the right, with both ends beyond the frame. Gentle slopes beside the stream are covered in lush green grass. The low-flowing stream’s bed is yellow-brown with sediment, and dotted with round gray stones half-submerged in the water. A large boulder is partially visible beside the bridge on the right, with half beyond the edge of the frame. Behind the bridge, a few tall, leafless trees rise up into a clear blue sky, with a set of power lines faintly visible in the distance.
CAPTION: Mission farming relied on gravity-powered acequia (ah SAY key ah) systems. These irrigation systems used dams, aqueducts, and ditches to divert water from the San Antonio River to the fields.
In the photo on the left, a park ranger is lifting a sluice gate at Mission San Juan. The Espada Aqueduct (right), west of Mission San Juan, is the only remaining Spanish aqueduct in the United States.
CREDIT: NPS / MELINDA SCHMITT
MAP: Visitor Map
DESCRIBING: A color map illustrating San Antonio Missions National Historical Park within the city of San Antonio, Texas.
SYNOPSIS: A detailed visual representation of the San Antonio Missions, and how they interconnect with the city. This map crosses through the entire brochure page from top to bottom.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: This map provides a detailed visual representation of San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, and how all of the missions are interconnected through trails, roads and the San Antonio River. The map serves as the background of the main unigrid, with text and image elements around it and crosses through the brochure spreading from top to bottom. The park winds through the city and local roads are shown in white on the map.
The northernmost landmark on the map is the Alamo, situated in downtown San Antonio. From there, the map expands southwards along the trails and roads, to connect the four additional historic missions. From north to south, they are labeled in green text boxes with white text and read: Mission Concepción, Mission San José, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada. The park Visitor Center is labeled with green text underneath the label of Mission San José. Other important historical features are included in blue text such as the mission’s acequias and the Espada Aqueduct in a distinct blue box with white text. The map highlights different routes for accessibility, including a driving tour, pedestrian trails, and the River Walk Hike and Bike Trail extension also known as the Mission Reach. The Mission Reach runs parallel to the San Antonio River in some sections, and the missions are interspersed with other public lands, parks, and green spaces.
In the lower right corner of the map, there is the map key that explains the different symbols and colors used throughout the map. The key indicates that National Park Service land is represented in light green, while other public parks and protected land are shown in a shade of yellow. The road is marked with a hollow green line that is filled in yellow. If the road is closed due to high water, the key advises consulting the map for detour routes. A dashed red line represents the River Walk Hike and Bike trail, an essential pathway for visitors exploring the missions on foot or bicycle. Additionally, other trails are marked with black dashed lines, showing alternative walking or biking paths. At the bottom of the key is a dual measurement bar showing 1 kilometer distance in black, and 1 mile distance in gray, with subdivisions of 0.5 labeled at the halfway mark for each, and dashed increments from 0.1 to 0.5. A special feature noted on the map key is the acequia, which refers to the historic irrigation systems used by the missions. Within the park boundary, acequias that are still in use today for irrigation are represented with a blue line. These irrigation channels were crucial for sustaining the missions’ agriculture in the past and continue to play a role in local water management. Picnic areas are also marked with a small black icon featuring a table, indicating designated spots where visitors can stop and rest along the trail.
OVERVIEW: More Information
TEXT:Visitor Center Mission San José 6701 San José Dr.
San Antonio, TX 78214 210-932-1001
www.nps.gov/saan
Administrative Office
2202 Roosevelt Ave.
San Antonio, TX 78210 210-534-8875
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To learn more about national parks, visit www.nps.gov.
Logo - World Heritage
OVERVIEW: Accessibility
TEXT: We strive to make facilities, services, and programs accessible to all. For information, go to the visitor center, ask a ranger, call, or check the park website.
TEXT: Visiting San Antonio Missions
TEXT:The missions are open daily except Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1.
Call or check the park website for hours and programs at the missions, and for occasional tours of Rancho de las Cabras. Each mission has picnic tables. Roads and trails connect the missions. VIA provides public transportation: viainfo.net. A separate organization operates the Alamo: www.thealamo.org.
The park visitor center at Mission San José has information and orientation, a seating area, activities, exhibits, a park film, and a bookstore.
For Your Safety
Walks, ramps, and steps can be uneven and slippery.
Avoid fire ants; stay on side- walks. Lock your car; do not leave valuables inside. On hot days, drink lots of fluids and seek shade or air conditioning when possible. Never leave a child or pet in the car during times of excessive heat. Flash floods are common. High water often closes the River Walk and roads along the Mission Trail driving tour. Don’t pass barriers on roads. Be cautious at water crossings. Turn around, don’t drown.
Be Considerate The churches in this park are active centers of worship. Do not disrupt church services; be respectful of priests, parishioners, and visitors.
Firearms See the park web- site for regulations.Emergencies call 911
IMAGE: The River Walk
DESCRIBING: A horizontal image of the San Antonio River Walk with people walking and cycling beside a river.
SYNOPSIS: A paved multi-use path curves gently along the river, flanked by lush vegetation, the San Antonio River and a historic bridge.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The light grey paved path of the San Antonio River Walk, known as the Mission Reach Hike and Bike Trail runs through the center of the image, curving gently to the right before ducking behind shrubbery in the distance. In the foreground, a person with brown hair, teal jacket, and black pants walks on the left side of the path. Two cyclists, both wearing black helmets and carrying black backpacks, traverse the path – one in khaki pants in the mid-ground of the image, the other in shorts, further in the distance. A grassy strip on the right of the path fades into red-brown shrubs, while to the left, an embankment with knee-high vegetation slopes gently towards the river. The silvery river peeks out between the embankments, flowing under a brown stone bridge with two arched supports. The bridge extends beyond the frame of the image. The opposite embankment is covered in round, shaggy shrubbery, and trees in hues of red-brown, yellow, and green, creating a serene atmosphere. The sky, visible across the top-third of the image, is slightly overcast with patches of pale blue peeking through layers of fluffy, white and gray clouds.
CAPTION: Follow the Mission Reach section of the River Walk to visit the missions. Find maps and information at www. sara-tx.org.
CREDIT: NPS / Copyright JT FINEART PHOTOGRAPHY
IMAGE: The Alamo
DESCRIBING: A colored image of an old stone building.
SYNOPSIS: This image shows the Alamo, a historic Spanish mission located in San Antonio, Texas.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The building has a distinctive, rustic limestone facade with a large, arched wooden door in the center. Above the door the roof line has a distinctive scalloped top, a characteristic feature of the Alamo. The structure appears aged, with two small outcoves above the door and two windows on either side near the top and bottom. There are a few people standing outside near the structure, on a stone walkway, with neatly kept grassy lawns on either side. Stanchions for organizing guests during high traffic times are visible. A tree partially shades the right side of the building, where there is an arched stone entrance to a corridor. To the left side of the mission there is a Texas flag being flown with a tree and tall modern buildings behind it in the background. The building pops out set against a clear blue sky.
CAPTION: Established 1718, Valero was the first mission along the San Antonio River. Better known as the Alamo, this is where over 150 people died in 1836 fighting for independence from Mexico. The Alamo is managed by the Texas General Land Office.
CREDIT: NPS / MELINDA SCHMITT
IMAGE: Green Anole
DESCRIBING: A colored image of a Green Anole Lizard.
SYNOPSIS: The image shows a green anole lizard positioned on a light tan colored branch.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The image shows a green anole lizard, also known as Anolis Verde, perched on a light tan colored stone. The stone sits on top of the black border of the map legend. Its body is slender and a bright vibrant green color with a white underside. Its long tail, vibrant green close to the body, fades to dark brown at its tip. Its tail drapes off the edge of the rock, over the map legend border. The lizard displays a colorful dewlap, which is a circular flap of skin under its throat, with shades of pink and purple. The Anole is superimposed on the tan background of the brochure with a subtle drop shadow, with text next to the right side of the lizard identifying it as a green anole.
CAPTION: Green anole
CREDIT: Copyright DAVE WELLING
