Mission San José: Queen of the Missions
Explore Mission San José, known as the “Queen of the Missions,” and currently the largest in the World Heritage Site.
The Entrance Gate by NPSSan Antonio Missions National Historical Park
One Park—Four Missions
Mission San José is one of four Spanish colonial mission sites along the San Antonio river managed by San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
Free ranger-guided tours of the compound begin at 10 AM and 11 AM every day and leave from the Visitor Center at San José.
Tap to explore
Explore Mission San José
The reconstructed walls of Mission San José show the size and scope of the compound of the largest mission community established in 1720 along the San Antonio River.
The Mission Walls by NPSSan Antonio Missions National Historical Park
Mission San José Community
Today you can see components of Indigenous cultures in the frescoes, food, clothing, and customs of the missions. Parishes at all four mission churches are still active.
Clothing and Tools by NPSSan Antonio Missions National Historical Park
Mission Inhabitants
Native people faced a long transition into Spanish culture. It took years to become subjects of the Spanish crown. Neophytes needed to learn the tenets of Catholicism. The security provided by mission life came at a cost. European disease decimated native populations.
Mission Inhabitants
The interweaving of colonial Spain with Indigenous people precipitated a fundamental change. It created a new society, neither wholly Indigenous nor wholly Spanish. It is still the prevailing culture of South Texas.
By Cornell CapaLIFE Photo Collection
Daily Life
It was here that the transition from traditional hunter-gather society evolved. New forms of shelter, new foods, and new crafts became the norm. The farms outside the walls cultivated fields that fed the community.
Wooden Bowls by NPSSan Antonio Missions National Historical Park
New Foodways
The Franciscans introduced new foods including spices such as cumin, garlic, and rosemary. The blending of foods and spices produced a new cuisine, another example of the interweaving of cultures that is reflected in the South Texas culture and cuisine today.
The Granary by NPSSan Antonio Missions National Historical Park
Granary
Families received weekly allotments of food from the friars. The granary, the largest stone structure of the complex, illustrates the success of the mission enterprise. Outlying fields and ranches produced the fruits, vegetables, and grains from imported seeds.
The Convento by NPSSan Antonio Missions National Historical Park
Convento
The grand two-story Convento provided housing for the priest and two friars who resided here and ruled over the mission. Separated from the rest of the compound, their residences reflect the high status of the clergy.
The Rose Window by NPSSan Antonio Missions National Historical Park
Rose Window
This ornate baroque-style window provides a glimpse into the church and religious rituals. From inside the window, priests displayed the Eucharist and preached to the future congregation, called neophytes, gathered outside.
Model Acequia by NPSSan Antonio Missions National Historical Park
Community Mill
The grist mill provided a local source of
wheat flour for the community. After secularization of the
mission, this grist mill continued to be a source for milling
for the surrounding community.
Water Power
Water from the San Antonio River irrigates the mission fields and powers this grist mill. An extension of the acequia directs the flow of water to the circular cistern next to the stone building.
The Interior of the Grist Mill by NPSSan Antonio Missions National Historical Park
Grist Mill
The original grist mill, constructed on this site in the 1790s, fell into disrepair. A 1930s project built this accurate reconstruction, and a 1999-2001 restoration brought it to working order.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
nps.gov/saan
