The City of San Antonio, Texas, was founded largely by the efforts of Antonio Olivares, a Spanish monk born in 1630, known colloquially as simply San Antonio. San Antonio is also responsible for celebrating the first Roman Catholic mass in Texas. He was instrumental in founding the institutions behind the San Antonio Missions tour.
Mission San Jose, formally known as San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo, the so-called Queen of the Missions, is also the largest of the five. Construction began in 1720 and ended in 1782. The initial structure suffered two major calamities. The first one was the collapse of the roof and the dome in 1874. The second catastrophe was in 1928, when the church tower collapsed. The buildings are composed of Texas limestone and a fascinating polychromatic substance, brightly colored stucco.
Architectural features for which the mission is noted include the "Rose Window, " flying buttresses, quatrefoil patterns, polychromatic plaster and numerous intriguing carvings. The 25 risers in the loft for the choir were all hand-carved from a single log. They were joined without the use of either pegs or nails.
Contrary to what might be expected, the famous Rose Window does not follow the same pattern as most other windows that bear the same generic description. In general, the conventional medieval rose window was an intricately-fashioned circle divided into wedges by a series of spoke-like devices known as mullions and tracery. An alternative nickname for this type of feature is "wheel window."
The Rose Window at the church in San Jose bears no resemblance whatsoever to the other so-named windows of its time, the mid-eighteenth century. When it was set in place in 1770, the San Jose Rose Window was considered the most grandiose and ornate feature in the entire country. Situated just over four feet off the ground, the window stands seven feet high. The origin of its name remains unknown to this day.
The San Antonio Missions National Historical Park encompasses three other Franciscan edifices. These are Mission San Francisco de la Espada (Mission Espada), Mission Nuestra Senora de la Purisima Concepcion de Acuna (Mission Concepcion), dedicated in 1755, and Mission San Juan de Capistrano, which was completed in 1756. The latter, Mission San Juan Capistrano, should not be mixed up with the mission in California, which is famous for the return of hoards of swallows each year during the month of March.
The fifth Spanish mission located in San Antonio, The Alamo, was the site of one of the defining battles in Texas history during the Texas War of Independence (otherwise known as the Texas Revolution). The war, lasting six months, was between the Mexican government and the colonists of Texas. That particular conflict ended with the formation of the Texan republic. Prior to the Mexican-American War that took place in 1848, Texas was formally entered into the union as the 28th state.
The fifth Franciscan mission, situated outside the National Historical Park, is The Alamo. Now a museum in the Alamo Plaza District of downtown San Antonio, the Alamo is no longer a Catholic church. The park itself houses over 180 different species of bird. Each mission takes at least two to four hours to fully appreciate. Park admission and guided tours are free of charge.
Mission San Jose, formally known as San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo, the so-called Queen of the Missions, is also the largest of the five. Construction began in 1720 and ended in 1782. The initial structure suffered two major calamities. The first one was the collapse of the roof and the dome in 1874. The second catastrophe was in 1928, when the church tower collapsed. The buildings are composed of Texas limestone and a fascinating polychromatic substance, brightly colored stucco.
Architectural features for which the mission is noted include the "Rose Window, " flying buttresses, quatrefoil patterns, polychromatic plaster and numerous intriguing carvings. The 25 risers in the loft for the choir were all hand-carved from a single log. They were joined without the use of either pegs or nails.
Contrary to what might be expected, the famous Rose Window does not follow the same pattern as most other windows that bear the same generic description. In general, the conventional medieval rose window was an intricately-fashioned circle divided into wedges by a series of spoke-like devices known as mullions and tracery. An alternative nickname for this type of feature is "wheel window."
The Rose Window at the church in San Jose bears no resemblance whatsoever to the other so-named windows of its time, the mid-eighteenth century. When it was set in place in 1770, the San Jose Rose Window was considered the most grandiose and ornate feature in the entire country. Situated just over four feet off the ground, the window stands seven feet high. The origin of its name remains unknown to this day.
The San Antonio Missions National Historical Park encompasses three other Franciscan edifices. These are Mission San Francisco de la Espada (Mission Espada), Mission Nuestra Senora de la Purisima Concepcion de Acuna (Mission Concepcion), dedicated in 1755, and Mission San Juan de Capistrano, which was completed in 1756. The latter, Mission San Juan Capistrano, should not be mixed up with the mission in California, which is famous for the return of hoards of swallows each year during the month of March.
The fifth Spanish mission located in San Antonio, The Alamo, was the site of one of the defining battles in Texas history during the Texas War of Independence (otherwise known as the Texas Revolution). The war, lasting six months, was between the Mexican government and the colonists of Texas. That particular conflict ended with the formation of the Texan republic. Prior to the Mexican-American War that took place in 1848, Texas was formally entered into the union as the 28th state.
The fifth Franciscan mission, situated outside the National Historical Park, is The Alamo. Now a museum in the Alamo Plaza District of downtown San Antonio, the Alamo is no longer a Catholic church. The park itself houses over 180 different species of bird. Each mission takes at least two to four hours to fully appreciate. Park admission and guided tours are free of charge.
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