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San Antonio Missions National Historical ParkUnusual fresco of a sun with face showing a mustache and goatee, on the ceiling of Mission Concepción's Library
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Summer Hours

Mission San José and the park Visitor Center will remain open until 8:00 p.m. through Saturday, August 29, 2009. Normal operating hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. resume Sunday, August 30, 2009.

The legacy and history of San Antonio and this region began with a simple ceremony when...

in 1718 Franciscans and Spanish representatives established the first mission. Within 13 years, five were located along the San Antonio River. The missions’ purpose? To acculturate and Christianize the native population and make them Spanish citizens. Today, visitors can retrace the footsteps of the mission Indians and friars. And, possibly, meet descendants of those first inhabitants.


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Mission San Juan

New Exhibits at Mission San Juan

New exhibits trace the founding of Mission San Juan, its relevance to local and Texas history and its meaning and significance to the Bergs Mill community that arose out of ruins of the mission in the mid 1850s.

A grand opening to unveil this exhibit will be held at Mission San Juan Capistrano at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 26.
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Park employees in the 1940s at Aztec National Monument

National Parks - America's Best Idea

Writer and historian Wallace Stegner called national parks “the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst.”

Coming in September 2009, PBS (KLRN) will run Ken Burn's The National Parks: America's Best Idea. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park will be featured in one of four vignettes produced in association with the film. Stay tune!
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Write to

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
2202 Roosevelt Avenue
San Antonio, Texas 78210

E-mail Us

Phone

Visitor Center
(210) 932-1001

Headquarters
(210) 534-8833

Fax

(210) 534-1106

Climate

From April through October be prepared for hot, humid weather. Wear a hat, use sun screen liberally and often, and drink plenty of water.

In November through March, weather is more temperate, and sometimes chilly.
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Spanish mission vaquero herding cattle.  

Did You Know?
that the first cattle drives originated from the (San Antonio) Spanish missions in Texas? Vaqueros drove hundreds of cattle, sheep, and goats to Louisiana during the American War for Independence to supply American colonists. Spain's real intent was to weaken the British militarily and financially.

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Last Updated: August 24, 2009 at 12:11 EST