MISSIONS Historic
THE ALAMO Built as a mission named San Antonio de Valero in 1718, the compound was converted into a frontier outpost in the late 1700s. The soldiers called the old mission the Pueblo de la Compañia del Alamo and eventually just the Alamo. Today visitors see the former mission, barracks and chapel that existed under six flags of independent nations.
www.thealamo.org
SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS Mission San José Founded in 1720, this mission is known as “the queen of the missions.” It is the largest of the four missions in the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. The mission was reconstructed by the WPA in the 1930s, and about 80 percent is original.
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purisima Concepción de Acuña Dedicated in 1755, this mission appears much as it did then. It is the oldest un- restored stone church in America. The mission was originally started in East Texas in 1716. Conditions led to it mov- ing to San Antonio in 1731 to the site where the chapel was ultimately built.
Mission San Juan Capistrano This mission also was originally founded in East Texas in 1716 and was moved to its present location in 1731. The church that stands today was built in 1756. There are plans to restore the San Juan Acequia (series of irrigation ditches) to provide water to the Span- ish Colonial demonstration garden.
Mission San Francisco de la Espada Founded as San Francisco de los Tejas in 1690 near what became Weches, it was moved to San Antonio in 1731.
www.nps.gov/saan
GOLIAD MISSIONS Mission Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo de Zuñiga In the 1930s, the CCC restored the mission in what is now Goliad State Park. The original was established in 1722 near Matagorda Bay and moved to its Goliad location in 1749. Visitors also can make an appointment to tour the ruins of the 1750s Mission Rosario State Historic Site, nearby.
www.tpwd.
texas.gov/state-parks/goliad
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The Washington’s Birthday Celebration is a major event in Laredo.
known for the time in 1836 when a small group of Texians held out for 13 days against Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna’s forces. Tough it fell into ruins aſter the battle, the complex, today, gives visitors a look at the church, a long barracks and the Alamo gar- dens and a giſt shop. Visitors will find exhib- its on the Texas Revolution and Texas history. After such serious contemplation, visi-
tors can remove any lingering melancholy by heading across Alamo Plaza to the Ripley’s Haunted Adventure, Guinness World Records Museum, Tomb Raider 3D, Ripley’s Believe it or Not! and Louis Tussaud’s Wax Museum. From downtown, the explorations can take
off in different directions depending on some- one’s area of interest. North leads to Bracken- ridge Park with the zoo and botanic gardens, northwest goes to Six Flags Fiesta Texas and a westerly route heads to SeaWorld San Anto- nio. To the south is the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park, which is now a World Heritage Site.
★
HISTORIC EXPLORATION Delving further into Texas history will take
visitors southeast of San Antonio to Goliad and Fannin. Aſter the fall of the Alamo, Sam Houston ordered Col. James W. Fannin to de- stroy Presidio La Bahía and retreat to Victo- ria. On the way to Victoria, Fannin and his forces were caught in an open prairie near
Coleto Creek. Aſter fending off repeated at- tacks, the Texian forces were surrounded. Be- lieving con tinued fighting was impossible and that by surrendering they would be released to the United States, Fannin and his officers sur- rendered. Te Texian prisoners were marched to nearby Goliad. Santa Anna ordered the ex- ecution of Goliad’s prisoners, which included other battalions. Tough exact number was unknown, more than 300 men, including Fannin, were executed. Tis pivotal event in- flamed the Texas cause. At the decisive battle at San Jacinto, Texian forces cried “Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!” Te Fannin Battleground State Historic
Site, built on the site of the Battle of Co- leto Creek, includes a 28-foot granite mon- ument honoring Fannin and his men and the Cotton Gin Screw that marked the bat- tle site for many years. One of the survivors of the battle who escaped the execution had marked the site with a pile of rocks that was later replaced by the screw. A historic band- stand has interpretive exhibits, and panels throughout the site tell the story and signif- icance of the battle. A monument two miles south of Goliad
near Presidio La Bahía marks the grave of Col. Fannin and the others who were exe- cuted. Presidio La Bahía has been restored to its 1836 appearance and, along with two missions, is the only surviving example of a Spanish Colonial mission/presidio complex
PHOTO: KEVIN STILLMAN/TXDOT
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