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Follow the Mission Trail - Page 2

© Bob Thaxton

Proceeding along the Mission Trail Parkway you’ll come to San Francisco de la Espada or, as it is more commonly known, Mission Espada. Near the mission are the Espada Dam and Espada Acequia (aqueduct). Espada Dam was among four such structures built by the Spanish along the San Antonio River. The acequia carries water across Piedras Creek and continues to feed the original mission irrigation system. The dam and aqueduct are considered to be the best example of 18th century Spanish irrigation works still surviving in the United States today.

Last stop on the parkway is Mission San Juan Capistrano located at 9101 Graf Road. Of the five missions, San Juan is the farthest removed from urban settings, and its grounds include a self-guided nature trail. Spanish friars planned to build an elaborate church at San Juan, but it was never completed. However, the mission’s chapel, with its distinctive open bell tower, is still in use as a parish church.

In 1995, another tract was added to San Antonio Missions National Historic Park – Rancho de las Cabras located near Floresville approximately 30 miles downstream on the San Antonio River. In its heyday, Las Cabras helped support Mission Espada. However, it is still under development and is open to the public on a limited basis.

For more information on the park, go to its official Web site at www.nps.gov/saan/home.htm. When I last tried to access this site, it wouldn’t come up. If you have a similar experience, try the site maintained by Los Compadres (friends) of San Antonio Missions National Historic Park at loscompadres.net/parkinfo.asp.

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