Mission San Juan de Capistrano

The smallest of all San Antonio's historical Mission churches and the most elegant in its' simplicity, San Juan de Capistrano is the third in the chain of the five missions going south from Mission San Antonio de Valero (the Alamo) along the San Antonio River. Originally built in east Texas, Mission San Juan was moved to its present location in 1731. The mission served as housing for the friars, settlers, and Indian inhabitants who farmed fruit and vegetables. A granary was operated on the property. Mexican troops were garrisoned here as well. Irrigation provided the ability to produce more crops in the fields outside the mission compound and 20 miles away the mission maintained a ranch where both sheep and cattle were raised. Workshops at the mission produced iron tools, wove cloth, and tanned hides. The mission was self-sufficient and livable for many years, developing a successful trading network for their surpus production. Later the population declined and the progress on the building of a larger chruch was abandoned. The unfinished new church building is still standing on the grounds.

The San Antonio River served the water needs of the misson. The San Juan Acequia (aqueduct), which is still functioning and was recently restored, holds the oldest water rights in the state.

Today, Misson San Juan de Capistrano is still used as a parish church (as are all the Mission churches here in San Antonio) and the restored convent building is used for visitor center. The open three bell tower, simple interior, and unrestored exterior give San Juan the quietest and most isolated feel of all the missions.

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