National Register Listing

Mission San Francisco de la Espada

a.k.a. See Also:Mission San Francisco de la Espada (Boundary Increa

Espada Rd., San Antonio, TX

The mission system, a vital part of Spanish conquest and control, was designed to extend, hold. Christianize and civilize the frontier. This system is exemplified by the chain of missions established in the 1730s along the San Antonio River. The farthest south in this chain. Mission San Francisco de la Espada, is the successor to the first East Texas mission, San Francisco de los Tejas (1690).

The mission system, a vital part of Spanish conquest and control, was designed to extend, hold. Christianize and civilize the frontier. This system is exemplified by the chain of missions established in the 1730s along the San Antonio River. The farthest south in this chain. Mission San Francisco de la Espada, is the successor to the first East Texas mission, San Francisco de los Tejas (1690).

Initially, the Espada complex consisted of temporary buildings; however, by 1745, more permanent stone structures were being erected. Those remnants of the early buildings are: the chapel, convento, the fortified tower in the southeast corner, several ruins of Indian quarters and the foundations of a large church (1762) and a granary.

One of the early missionary priests at Espada, Father Bartolome Garcia, made a significant contribution while he was there. In 1760 his Manual para Administrar los Sacrementos a confessional manual, was published in Spanish and Coahuiltecan, This remains as the only record of the language of those mission Indians.

Espada Aqueduct, nearby the mission complex, is the sole extant Spanish aqueduct in the United States and is still in use.

Espada's history did not end with the secularization of its mission lands though. In 1835 the mission buildings were occupied by Bowie, Travis and their Texas Army and used as a fortification against the Mexican Army.

Primarily, though, Espada Mission stands as a vital and living reminder of the Spanish colonial past in the southwest, as well as an architectural and symbolic continuum of this special kind of religious institution.
Bibliography
Bolton, Herbert E. 1970. Texas in the Middle Eighteenth Century. Texas History Paperbacks TH-8. Austin: University of Texas Press.

Castaneda, Carlos E. 1936. Our Catholic Heritage in Texas. III. Austin: Von Boeckman-Jones.

Webb, Walter P., ed. 1952. The Handbook of Texas. 2 vols. Austin Texas State Historical Association.
Local significance of the building:
Historic - Aboriginal; Architecture; Religion

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.

Audiobooks about the history of Texas.
Texas was once a part of Mexico but gained independence in 1836 after a famous battle at the Alamo.
Texas random facts
Bexar County, Texas, holds a significant place in the history of the Lone Star State. Native American tribes thrived in the region for centuries before the arrival of European explorers. In 1718, the Spanish established the Mission San Antonio de Valero, known as the Alamo, which became a symbol of Texas' fight for independence. The area came under Mexican control after Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821.

During the Texas Revolution in 1836, the Battle of the Alamo took place, where a small group of Texan defenders valiantly fought against Mexican forces. Although the defenders ultimately lost, their bravery and sacrifice galvanized the Texan cause. Soon after, the Republic of Texas was established, and Bexar County was officially created in 1837, named after San Antonio de Béxar.

Bexar County played a vital role in the westward expansion of the United States. It became part of the United States when Texas joined as the 28th state in 1845. The county saw significant growth with the construction of railroads, the establishment of military bases like Fort Sam Houston, and the influx of European immigrants. In 1968, HemisFair '68 brought international attention to the county, showcasing its rich cultural heritage and attracting visitors from around the world. Today, Bexar County is known for its vibrant tourism industry, robust military presence, renowned healthcare institutions, and prestigious educational establishments.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Bexar County, Texas.

  • Pre-19th Century: The region that would become Bexar County was inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Coahuiltecan and Lipan Apache.

  • 1718: The Spanish established the Mission San Antonio de Valero, known today as the Alamo, in what is now downtown San Antonio. This marked the beginning of Spanish colonization in the area.

  • 1821: Mexico gained independence from Spain, and the region came under Mexican control.

  • 1836: The Battle of the Alamo took place during the Texas Revolution, where a small group of Texan defenders fought against Mexican forces. Though the defenders were ultimately defeated, their resistance became a symbol of Texas independence.

  • 1837: The Republic of Texas officially established Bexar County, naming it after San Antonio de Béxar, the former Spanish name for the area.

  • 1845: Texas joined the United States as the 28th state.

  • 1861-1865: During the American Civil War, Bexar County remained part of the Confederacy.

  • Late 19th-early 20th century: The county saw growth and development with the expansion of railroads, the establishment of military bases like Fort Sam Houston, and the arrival of European immigrants.

  • 1968: HemisFair '68, a world's fair, was held in San Antonio, bringing national and international attention to the city and the county.