Spanish Missions of San Antonio

San Juan

Much like , Mission San Juan Capistrano was originally established as San Jose de los Nazonis in East Texas and then moved to San Antonio in 1731.

Misson San Juan

window and arch

Notice the arch is being supported by metal rods and a beam? Seems the building is crumbling and they are trying to save it.

cracks in the mission wall

This is the inside of the wall that's being supported, you can see the large cracks in it.

Inside Mission San Juan

The chapel is quite narrow, maybe 12 feet wide?

bench under window

This building was marked as a private residence. I think the pastor or head of the church lives here, there is an office marked in the back too.

doorway wall window at San Juan Mission

window in wall at San Juan Mission San Antonio

San Juan Mission Door

historic mission walls

Residence on the mission grounds. Can you imagine living an a house almost 300 years old?

historic mission walls 2

By mid century, San Juan Mission with its rich farm and pasture lands, was a regional supplier of agricultural produce. Orchards and gardens outside the walls provided peaches, melons, pumpkins, grapes and peppers. Corn, beans, sweet potatoes, squash and even sugar cane were grown in irrigated fields. In 1762, Mission San Juan’s herds were reported to include 3500 sheep and nearly as many cattle.

The San Antonio missions were self-sufficient, and they supported area settlements and the nearby presidio. In good times, they traded surplus goods to others.


This is a three part post on the Spanish Missions of San Antonio.

The first mission photographed on the previous page was the and the next mission is .

Page 3 – San Antonio Missions – San Jose

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7 Responses to Spanish Missions of San Antonio
  1. Soledad Garcia
    March 13, 2010 | 11:42 pm

    Darlene, the pictures of the Spanish missions in San Antonio left me speechless ! I liked the atmosphere and texture and well…everything, really, about them! What a beautiful and informative post !

  2. Darlene
    March 14, 2010 | 6:49 pm

    thanks for that, they are quite fascinating to wander around and see them

  3. Loukas Koufodontes
    March 14, 2010 | 7:08 pm

    Are these unmodified? If they are, they’re truly amazing. Some of them look like you used infrared film. I likee likee, very nice :-)

  4. Jason
    March 14, 2010 | 7:22 pm

    Wow Darlene – these are great shots, really speaks to the beauty and history of the missions!

  5. Darlene
    March 14, 2010 | 7:29 pm

    Loukas – no they are all “modified” using Adobe Lightroom. I don’t use film, it’s all digital. Thanks guys.

  6. stephs
    March 17, 2010 | 11:34 am

    OH MY!! those green fern looking things look like they’re moving around and going to jump out and catch me if i walk by..hehe.

    Gorgeous photography! When you get back we’ll have to go on a photo date walk together :)

  7. Darlene
    October 19, 2010 | 5:38 pm

    FYI for all Young Snowbirds readers: Road Trip calendars for 2011 are now available on my site. I had so many images and requests to have them that I have created a calendar of some of my favorites from the road. You can see all the images in the calendar and order one on my photography blog at: http://www.herviewphotography.com/2010/09/30/road-trip-2011-calendars.html

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