The Mission San José (1720)

The Spanish established a chain of missions along the San Antonio River. These missions became the foundation for the city of San Antonio. Named San Jose, this mission was established by Fray Antonio Margil de Jesus in 1720. A model among the Texas missions, San Jose gained a reputation as a major social and cultural center. Among the San Antonio missions, it also provided the strongest fort against raids from Indians.

1. Entrance Station2. Indian Quarters (west wall)3. West Well4. Oven5. Granary6. Spanish Residence7. Grape Arbor8. Archway9. Flour Mill10. Amphitheater11. Church Front Entrance14. East Well15. East Gate16. Indian Quarters17. Ruins (east wall)19. Southeast Gate20. Indian Quarters21. South Well22. Cemetery Plot

Map Plan of Mission San José

residence: where people livegranary: a storehouse for grain or animal feedquarters: a place of residence

Photo of Mission San José

1. Locate the different structures on Map Plan of Mission San José, slide 3. Which buildings do you think were most important to the operation of the mission? Why?

2. Do you think that Mission San José was designed to be self-sufficient (run on its own)? Why or why not?

3. Try to match some of the structures keyed on the map plan, slide 3, to the aerial photo, slide 4. What structures appear still exist?

4. What do the remaining buildings tell us about the technology of the people who lived there? How do the buildings indicate the region's climate?

Questions about the Mission San José