- Mission San José (Texas)
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Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo
"Queen of the Missions"
Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo.
Basic information Location San Antonio, Texas
USAGeographic coordinates 29°21′44″N 98°28′47″W / 29.36222°N 98.47972°WCoordinates: 29°21′44″N 98°28′47″W / 29.36222°N 98.47972°W Affiliation Roman Catholic Architectural description Architectural style Spanish Groundbreaking Founded 1720; Work began in 1768 Completed 1782 Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo is a historic Catholic mission in San Antonio, Texas, USA. The mission was named in part for the Marquis de San Miguel de Aguayo, José de Azlor y Virto de Vera. Many buildings on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, borrow architectural elements from those found at Mission San José.[1]
The mission was founded on February 23, 1720, because Mission San Antonio de Valero had become overcrowded shortly after its founding with refugees from the closed East Texas missions. Father Antonio Margil received permission from the governor of Coahuila and Texas, the Marquis de San Miguel de Aguayo, to build a new mission 5 miles (8 km) south of San Antonio de Valero.[2] Like San Antonio de Valero, Mission San José served the Coahuiltecan Indians. The first buildings, made of brush, straw, and mud, were quickly replaced by large stone structures, including guest rooms, offices, a dining room, and a pantry. A heavy outer wall was built around the main part of the mission, and rooms for 350 Indians were built into the walls.[3]
A new church, which is still standing, was constructed in 1768 from local limestone.[4] The mission lands were given to its Indians in 1794, and mission activities officially ended in 1824. After that, the buildings were home to soldiers, the homeless, and bandits. It was restored in the 1930s[5] and is now part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
Contents
Gallery
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Frescoes are still visible at the base of the bell tower.
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Elaborately carved portal at the front facade of the church.
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The Rose Window.
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Rear portal to the church.
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Church interior.
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Arched walkway leading to the church.
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Quarters for the Native Americans who went to the mission and ovens surround the courtyard to the mission.
See also
- Spanish missions in Texas
- Mission Nuestra de la Purísima Concepción de Acuña; also Mission Concepcion
- Mission San Juan Capistrano
- Mission San Francisco
- Espada Acequia
References
- ^ Barrick, Nolan (1985). Texas Tech... The Unobserved Heritage. Lubbock, Texas: Texas Tech University Press. pp. 18, 23. ISBN 0-89672-125-6.
- ^ Maxwell, Margaret Muenker (1998), Let's Visit Texas Missions, Austin, Texas: Eakin Press, p. 28, ISBN 1571681973
- ^ Maxwell (1998), p. 29.
- ^ Maxwell (1998), p. 30.
- ^ Maxwell (1998), p. 31.
External links
- Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo at the National Park Service
- Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo at the Handbook of Texas Online
Early Texas Settlements Spanish Missions in Texas Spanish Forts of Texas Armed conflicts Empresarios See also Categories:- Spanish missions in Texas
- Buildings and structures in San Antonio, Texas
- Archaeological sites in Texas
- New Spain
- Colonial United States (Spanish)
- Spanish Colonial architecture in Texas
- Visitor attractions in San Antonio, Texas
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