TexasEscapes.com 
HOME : : NEW : : TEXAS TOWNS : : GHOST TOWNS : : TEXAS HOTELS : : FEATURES : : COLUMNS : : BUILDINGS : : IMAGES : : ARCHIVE : : SITE MAP
PEOPLE : : PLACES : : THINGS : : HOTELS : : VACATION PACKAGES
Texas Escapes
Online Magazine
Texas Towns A - Z
Over 2600 Towns
Book Hotels
Texas Towns by Region
  • Texas Hill Country
  • Central Texas North
  • Central Texas South
  • South Texas
  • East Texas
  • West Texas
  • Texas Panhandle
  • Texas Gulf Coast
  • Texas Ghost Towns
    Over 700 Ghost Towns
    San Antonio Hotels
    Find Hotel Deals in
    San Antonio, Texas
    Book Today & Save

    San Antonio Missions
    San Antonio

    Text and Photos by Sam Fenstermacher

    Where to Stay
    San Antonio Hotels

    Dear Texas Escapes,

    Several years ago my wife and I spent a long weekend in San Antonio. We did all the popular things there are to do in San Antonio. The Alamo, River Walk, Botanic Gardens, etc. On Sunday morning we got up early and checked out of the hotel intending to spend a day drifting around in the Hill Country. The one last thing we wanted to do was take a quick look at the "Other" Missions. You know, the ones they don't talk about in the travel brochures.
    Mission Concepcion Church, San Antonio Mission Trail
    Mission Concepcion Church
    Mission Concepcion. Church interior , San Antonio mission trail
    Mission Concepcion. Church interior
    At about 9:00 AM we found ourselves at the front door of the church at Mission Concepcion. The National Park Service ranger had assured us the building was unlocked so we opened the door and walked in. What we found was the church congregation preparing for Sunday services. A very kind woman assured us we were welcome to stay and look around for a few minutes before church services started. All the San Antonio Missions are still active churches.
    Mission Espada, San Antonio Mission Trail
    Mission Espada. Scanned from a brown-tone black and white print.
    Mission Espada, San Antonio Mission Trail
    Mission Espada. Picture taken in late afternoon.
    Mission Espada arch and cross, San Antonio Mission Trail
    Mission Espada. Picture taken in late afternoon. Accent is on broken arch of door and cross with strong shadow.
    In November of 2002 we returned to San Antonio to spend two days dedicated to seeing the other missions. The images here are from that trip. I'm going to resist the temptation to tell you anything about the missions. They are well documented. I will tell you that I was impressed with the history of this holy place. These have to be the oldest active churches in the state.
    Mission San Jose, San Antonio Mission trail
    Mission San Jose
    Mission San Jose, San Antonio Mission trail
    Mission San Jose
    Mission San Jose. Church interior
    Mission San Jose.
    Church interior and dome
    Mission San Juan. Church interior. San Antonio Mission trail
    Mission San Juan. Church interior
    Mission San Juan - Altar, San Antonio Texas mission trail
    Mission San Juan - Altar
    The National Park Service does a good job of presenting the missions. And, unlike so many other attractions in San Antonio it costs almost nothing to see the San Antonio Missions.

    Enjoy the images! - Sam Fenstermacher


    See also San Antonio Missions by Byron Browne
    Where to Stay > San Antonio Hotels
    Related Topics: The Alamo | San Antonio |
    Battle of The Alamo | Texas Churches | Texas |
    Custom Search
    Book Your Hotel Now

    CITY SEARCH


    ALL ABOUT TEXAS:
    Texas People
    PEOPLE
    Texas Places
    PLACES
    Things - Texas Attractions
    THINGS
    TEXAS ESCAPES CONTENTS
    HOME | TEXAS ESCAPES ONLINE MAGAZINE | HOTELS | SEARCH SITE
    TEXAS TOWN LIST | TEXAS GHOST TOWNS | TEXAS COUNTIES

    Texas Hill Country | East Texas | Central Texas North | Central Texas South | West Texas | Texas Panhandle | South Texas | Texas Gulf Coast
    TRIPS | STATES PARKS | RIVERS | LAKES | DRIVES | FORTS | MAPS

    Texas Attractions
    TEXAS FEATURES
    People | Ghosts | Historic Trees | Cemeteries | Small Town Sagas | WWII | History | Texas Centennial | Black History | Art | Music | Animals | Books | Food
    COLUMNS : History, Humor, Topical and Opinion

    TEXAS ARCHITECTURE | IMAGES
    Courthouses | Jails | Churches | Gas Stations | Schoolhouses | Bridges | Theaters | Monuments/Statues | Depots | Water Towers | Post Offices | Grain Elevators | Lodges | Museums | Rooms with a Past | Gargoyles | Cornerstones | Pitted Dates | Stores | Banks | Drive-by Architecture | Signs | Ghost Signs | Old Neon | Murals | Then & Now
    Vintage Photos

    TRAVEL RESERVATIONS | USA | MEXICO

    Privacy Statement | Disclaimer | Contributors | Staff | Contact TE
    Website Content Copyright ©1998-2011. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. All Rights Reserved
    This page last modified: March 22, 2011