Mission Parkway

Mission Parkway follows the San Antonio River through the south side of San Antonio and takes in a wide range of historic and archeological sites. The river's springs, timber, game and water attracted prehistoric Indians, then Spanish missionaries, who developed farming through acequia irrigation systems. Later settlers built mills, stores, saloons and homes, especially around the community of Bergs Mill. The inventory includes the Hot Wells Bath House, the Padre Navarro house, the stone ruin of a mill site, a number of early houses, lithic scatters and the remains of several acequias and dams. The Espada acequia, dating from about 1731, is described as the best surviving Spanish Colonial irrigation system in the city and still supplies water to farmers near Mission Espada. The San Juan acequia also remains active. Since the 1930s the surrounding land has become mostly residential, and river channelization in the 1950s destroyed or altered some features.