San Antonio Missions National Historic Park

San Antonio Missions National Historic Park was proclaimed a national historic park on November 10, 1978, and established on April 1, 1983. The national historic park was later, in 2015, also designated the status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To access the park's 950 acres and more specifically the park’s main visitor center, find the intersection of Roosevelt Ave and New Napier Ave in San Antonio.

San Antonio Missions National Historic Park preserves four of the five Spanish frontier missions in San Antonio, Texas. These outposts including Mission Concepción, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada were established by Catholic religious orders to spread Christianity among the local people. 

The fifth, and probably the most famous mission in San Antonio, the Alamo Mission, is not a part of the National Historic Park. These missions formed a part of a colonization system that swept across the Spanish Southwest between the 17th century and the 19th century. Today, there are still four mission churches in the protected area that remain as active Catholic church parishes where regular church services are held. 

Besides appreciating the historic and religious background of the park, there are other activities that guests to the park can enjoy. For example, you could enjoy bicycling, hiking, and guided tours. Amenities in the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park to facilitate these activities include restrooms, bicycle trail, museum, and self-guided trails. 

Like other national parks, the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park is hospitable to dogs although, like other parks, dog owners will find that some restrictions will prevent them from fully exploring all corners of the park. For example, dogs are not allowed into park buildings at all. Furthermore, in areas of the park that dogs can venture into, the dog owner is expected to keep the pooch on a leash.