Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo, often referred to as the "Queen of the Missions," was founded on February 23, 1720, by Father Antonio Margil de Jesús. The mission was established to serve the Coahuiltecan Natives and to relieve overcrowding at Mission San Antonio de Valero (now known as the Alamo). The mission was named in part for the Marquis de San Miguel de Aguayo, José de Azlor y Virto de Vera.
The mission's early buildings were constructed from brush, straw, and mud, but these were soon replaced by more permanent stone structures. By 1768, the mission had developed significantly, with the construction of a new limestone church featuring extraordinary Spanish colonial Baroque architecture and statuary. At its peak, the mission housed 350 Indians in 84 two-room apartments.
Mission San José played a crucial role in the Spanish colonial efforts to convert and educate the local Native American population. The mission community included not only the church but also native family quarters, soldier's quarters, a granary, and a grist mill. The mission's church became renowned for its intricate facade, which includes a famous feature known as the Rose Window.
In 1794, the mission began the process of secularization, and its days as a Spanish mission officially ended in 1824. After secularization, the mission's buildings were used by various groups, including soldiers, the homeless, and bandits. In the 1930s, the Civil Works Administration and the Works Progress Administration undertook significant restoration efforts to preserve the mission's historical structures.
Today, Mission San José is part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can explore the mission's historical buildings, including the church, granary, and native quarters, and learn about the mission's role in the history of San Antonio and the broader Spanish colonial efforts in Texas.
