San Antonio Missions World Heritage Site

Official name

San Antonio Missions | UNESCO

Country

United States | Map

Continent

North America

Location

29.3280° Lat, -98.4600° Lon | Map

Code

1466

Time Zone

America/New_York (EDT, -0400)

Current Time

Category

Cultural

Description

Inscribed 2015. The site encompasses a group of five frontier mission complexes situated along a stretch of the San Antonio River basin in southern Texas, as well as a ranch located 37 kilometres to the south. It includes architectural and archaeological structures, farmlands, residencies, churches and granaries, as well as water distribution systems. The complexes were built by Franciscan missionaries in the 18 th century and illustrate the Spanish Crown’s efforts to colonize, evangelize and defend the northern frontier of New Spain. The San Antonio Missions are also an example of the interweaving of Spanish and Coahuiltecan cultures, illustrated by a variety of features, including the decorative elements of churches, which combine Catholic symbols with indigenous designs inspired by nature.