Mission San Juan Capistrano

Activity Overview

Mission San Juan Capistrano is one of the four Spanish colonial missions that make up San Antonio Missions National Historic Park. Its history began with the establishment of Mission San José de los Nazonis in 1716, which was eventually moved from eastern Texas to San Antonio in 1731 and renamed. If you're interested in history then it's well worth a brief visit to the ruins of this historic site which eventually became an important supplier of agricultural products such as melons, pumpkins, grapes, and peppers.

Things to Do

• View the ruins of the old mission, including the church, the priest's quarters, and the granary, which were all completed in the mid-18th century.
• Take photos of the beautiful Romanesque archway that was intended to be the entrance of a new church which was never completed.
• Explore the farmlands which were used to sustain the mission community and enjoy a family walk along the self-guided nature trail.

Mission San Juan Capistrano Insider Tips

• Stop by the Visitor's Center in Mission San José, where you can view exhibits related to all four missions and watch an informative film about life in the missions in the 1700s.
• For more information to plan your visit to San Antonio Missions National Historic Park, visit its official National Park Service website.
• Spend the day enjoying the outdoors and learning about history by walking along the 8-mile Mission Reach trail, which connects all four missions along the San Antonio River.