Mission San Jose: then and now

1936 vs 2010 · San Antonio, TX

NowThen

Then, 1936A black-and-white survey photo of the church's tall tower and dome rising over old stone walls, with trees in front.Photo: Arthur W. Stewart (Historic American Buildings Survey) · Public domain · Source · resized, cropped

Today, 2010The limestone church with its tall bell tower and domed roof beside it, under a blue sky with white clouds.Photo: Liveon001 (Travis Witt) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source · resized

The story

Mission San Jose was founded in 1720 at the urging of Father Margil de Jesus, with the approval of the Marques de Aguayo. Over 104 years as a mission, more than 2,000 Native people were baptized here. It was fully secularized on February 29, 1824.

Construction of the limestone church began in 1768, when about 350 Native residents lived in 84 two-room apartments. After visiting in 1777, Father Morfi called it the Queen of the Missions, and the church was finished around 1782.

The Rose Window is called an outstanding example of Spanish Colonial decoration, but no one knows who carved it. The granary was finished around 1755, and the grist mill ran from 1794 to 1809 and was restored in 2001. The missions became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015.

Did you know? The mission's grist mill ran from 1794 to 1809 and was restored in 2001.

Historians argue about this. Folklore says the Rose Window was carved by Pedro Huizar for his lost sweetheart, Rosa. The National Park Service says the sculptor is unknown, and a less romantic theory says the window is named for Saint Rose of Lima.

Fact or tall tale?

SolidMission San Jose was founded in 1720.
The National Park Service brochure says so.
Not trueThe Rose Window's sculptor is known for certain.
The National Park Service says the sculptor is unknown.

Sources

More: Look for historic photos at the Library of Congress

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Next: Sunset Station. Written from the cited sources, not yet walked on site unless noted.