Roman Rite Catholic mission established in 1690 by Spain and relocated in 1731 to present-day San Antonio, including acequia and aqueduct which can still be seen today.
General Information
Gift Shop: Tuesday to Sunday 10am-5pm
Get on I-37 S/US-281 S from W Market St. Continue on I-37 S to S East Loop 410/I- 410 Access Rd. Exit from I-410 W/US-281 S. Take Espada Rd to destination.
Overview
Mission San Francisco de la Espada traces back to 1690 in East Texas, making it the oldest of Spain's Texas missions, though the buildings visitors see today date from its 1731 move to San Antonio. It's the southernmost of the four mission sites in San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, and its setting feels the most rural and unrestored of the group, with weathered stone walls and ruins still standing among the fields.
The mission's acequia (irrigation ditch) still carries water from the nearby Espada Aqueduct to neighboring farmland, just as it has for nearly three centuries — a short walk from the mission grounds if you'd like to see the aqueduct itself.
Things to Do
Explore the Mission Ruins
Walk among the weathered stone walls and ruined outbuildings that give this mission a more rustic, less-restored feel than its sister sites.
Step Inside the Chapel
The small chapel remains an active place of worship and is open for visitors to see its simple interior.
Walk to the Espada Aqueduct
Follow the acequia a short distance to the historic aqueduct that still irrigates the surrounding farmland.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Mission San Francisco de la Espada", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
