Mission San Francisco de la Espada
Also known as: See Also:Mission San Francisco de la Espada (Boundary Increa
Why it's listed
Mission San Francisco de la Espada lies in southeast San Antonio and is the southernmost of the missions founded along the San Antonio River in the 1730s. Its first buildings were temporary, and permanent stone structures were underway by 1745. Today the site is partly ruined, partly reconstructed and partly restored. The small cross-shaped chapel, rebuilt through the efforts of Father Francis Bouchu after its walls collapsed, is still in use. A two-tiered bell wall, a convent, an arcade with rooms, Indian quarters, and the foundations of a 1762 church and a granary survive. A rubble bastion in the southeast corner is unique among the local missions. Father Bartolome Garcia's 1760 manual, published in Spanish and Coahuiltecan, preserves the only record of that language. The nearby Espada Aqueduct is the only extant Spanish aqueduct in the United States and remains in use. In 1835 the buildings served as a fortification for Texas forces.
Significance in brief: It is one of the chain of missions founded in the 1730s along the San Antonio River to extend and hold the Spanish frontier. It keeps an unusual surviving fortified bastion and a chapel still in use, and is tied to the nearby Espada Aqueduct, the only extant Spanish aqueduct in the United States. Father Bartolome Garcia's 1760 confessional manual, written in Spanish and Coahuiltecan, preserves the only record of the mission Indians' language.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 72001351, listed February 23, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Espada Rd., San Antonio |
|---|---|
| County | Bexar County |
| Listed | February 23, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001351 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century (specific date 1731) |
| Areas of significance | Historic - Aboriginal, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Partly in ruins, partly reconstructed and partly restored; the chapel is still used, and condition is marked good. The Archdiocese is maintaining the buildings and may restore more of the original complex. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Within district | Mission Parkway |
| Coordinates | 29.31782, -98.45026 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 72001351.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2393728
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.