San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Four Spanish frontier missions, part of a colonization system that stretched across the Spanish Southwest in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, are commemorated here. They include Missions San José, San Juan, Espada, and Concepción. The park, containing a number of cultural sites with some natural resource areas, was enacted in 1978. It is more than 850 acres in size.

The information below will assist you as you prepare for a visit to the park. Select buttons, above, for in-depth information about the visitor center and the missions.

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VISITATION:
Highest in April and May; lowest in December and January.

LOCATION:
San Antonio, Texas

ADDRESS:
Headquarters: San Antonio Missions NHP
2202 Roosevelt Ave.
San Antonio, TX 78210

TELEPHONE:
Headquarters: (210) 534-8833
Visitor Center: (210) 932-1001

OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS:
Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Closed: Thanksgiving Day, December. 25, and January 1

CLIMATE, RECOMMENDED CLOTHING:
Sunny, with humid, rainy periods throughout the year. Mild winters. Summers generally hot and humid. Wear comfortable sportswear and walking shoes.

DIRECTIONS:
Visitors traveling East-West on I-10: Exit at Probandt, then follow National Park Service signs to Mission Concepción. Rangers at this mission will provide detailed information regarding routes to the other missions.

Visitors traveling North-South on I-37: Exit at West Southcross. Proceed west on Southcross to Roosevelt Ave. Turn left on Roosevelt, and then left to the visitor center on Napier Ave. Rangers at the visitor center will provide further directions.

TRANSPORTATION:
To Park: access by Interstate Highways (IH-10, IH-37, and IH-35), and various state roads; San Antonio is serviced by an international airport, bus, and Amtrak stations. In Park: personal vehicle, bicycle, public transportation: VIA Trans and tour buses.

FEES, COSTS, RATES:
No admission fees. Donations accepted with boxes available at each site.

FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:
Visitor Center/Exhibits:
Visitor center open at Mission San José. Contact stations at each major site: Missions San José, San Juan, Espada, and Concepción.

Trails, Roads:
Roadways connect each site in this essentially urban park. A hike and bike trail partially connects each mission site, paralleling the San Antonio River in some places. A planned hike and bike trail, as part of the city's Mission Trails project, will incorporate the existing trail with new stretches from the downtown area to Espada, the southernmost mission site in the Park.

Programs/Activities:
Regularly scheduled tours, guided walks by rangers at major sites in season or whenever needed.

Lodging and camping facilities:
None in park. A variety of hotels, motels, and RV camping sites are available in surrounding areas.

Food/supplies:
Local restaurants, grocery stores.

Other Concessions/NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and
Opportunities:
A bookstore located at Mission San José is managed by the Southwest Parks and Monuments Association, with an adjunct display in the contact station at Mission Concepción. A giftshop at Mission San José is operated by the park's friends' group, Los Compadres de San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.

Accessibility:
Each of the major sites in the park is largely wheelchair accessible. A wheelchair is available at each site.

Special Needs:
Parking areas at each site are available for buses. Visitor parking is available at each site.

RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES/PARK USE:
Sight-seeing at the historical sites; observing plants and wildlife on the San Juan Nature Trail; hiking/biking; picnicking at designated areas along the San Antonio River; birdwatching.

RESERVATIONS/PERMITS:
Reservations for school groups or other educational groups should be made at least two weeks prior to the visit. At least one month's notice and application for special use permits is required. Filming permits are arranged on an individual basis (based on size of the project, whether a movie, commercial, etc., and how many park personnel for how much time will be involved). For additional information concerning reservations, special use, or filming permits, call (210) 534-8833.

BASIC VISIT RECOMMENDATIONS:
Stay from two to five hours; may require near eight hours for leisurely visit to all sites and areas.

SPECIAL EVENTS, PROGRAMS:
After Christmas, either the last week of December or the first week in January, a morality play, "Los Pastores," is enacted at Mission San José in the evening; annually, in December, an open house is held at Mission San José in the evening with ranger-led tours (bookstore and giftshop open); a series of crafts demonstrations are held, spring and fall, at Mission Espada (crafts representative of those taught neophytes in the early days of the missions); summer weekend evenings: a series of performances at the amphitheater at Mission San José by civic groups (ballet folklórico, traditional hispanic music, plays, etc.) Hike and bike trail tours led by rangers on weekends during prime visitation. Call park headquarters for information for specific dates and times for all of the above: (210) 534-8833.

School House This park is featured in a lesson plan created by Teaching with Historic Places, a program of the National Park Service that helps teachers and students understand how parks and other historic places embody America's historical experiences and cultural expressions.

VISITOR IMPACTS:
Information concerning closing of certain roads accessing parksites which have low water crossings is provided, in season, at each of the contact stations at the major parksites as well as at Park Headquarters.

ADJACENT VISITOR ATTRACTIONS:
Yturri-Edmonds House, south of downtown San Antonio off Roosevelt Avenue at 257 Yellowstone; Spanish Governors' Palace in the downtown area at 105 Military Plaza. Numerous visitor attractions in and near downtown San Antonio.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Write Park Headquarters, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, 2202 Roosevelt Ave., San Antonio, TX 78210, or call (210) 534-8833.

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Last Updated:Thursday, 23-Apr-98 11:57:43
http://www.nps.gov/saan/