From All Roads.

Walking the grounds of Mission San Jose helps trace the fusion of Native American and Spanish histories into Texas culture. Established 300 years ago, the stunning architecture, flying buttresses, and castle-like facade have contributed to it’s moniker, The Queen of Missions.

The first mill in Texas is located on the property, which helped produce flour for surrounding settlements in the blossoming San Antonio community. The largest of five missions in the San Antonio area, these former religious communities are all classified as UNESCO World Heritage sites. And today, these historical landmarks continue to hold religious significance.

The San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is the only heritage site in the U.S. that remains an active parish, with services every Sunday. Faithful recreations of frescoes from the 1700s continue to adorn the exterior of the Church at Mission San Jose. While the Mission’s rose window serves as one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in North America. Legend says Pedro Huizar carved it as a monument to his sweetheart Rosa, who died in a shipwreck.

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