This category of locations includes churches and, sometimes, facilities run by churches.
Completing my short hike from Mission Espada, I arrived at the back gates of a mission that seemed much better restored. Perhaps it was just much less damaged. In either event, I also noticed there were significantly more tourists present.
After a pleasant conversation, I got out of the Uber I had taken from my hotel in San Antonio. It was a beautiful sunny day as I walked toward the crumbling walls of what I presumed must have been an impressive structure. I had no idea what to expect as I'd never visited a Spanish Mission before. Two days prior, I had walked some of the grounds of the Alamo, but the huge number of tourists, and lengthy lineup deterred me from actually entering.
As I entered the complex, the most noticable feature was, of course, the bare outlines of the former mission. One could see where the outer walls once stood, and one got a vague sense as to how others must have lived along the inside of these walls, probably sharing in their protection. I was struck by the relative quiet, and tiny number of tourists milling about the grounds.
Inaugurated in 1905, the current cathedral stands on the same site as its predecessor which had been there since 1750. Designed by architect Julius Carl Raschdorff, it cost over 11 million Reichmarks to construct. The interior included design influences by Anton von Werner.
Continuing on with my day trip, I decided to take a look at an almost-ghost-town, Biscotasing. While this town is a mere shadow of what it had been in the past, it still enjoys a busy existence during the summer, and hunting seasons.
In 2001, this incredible, old church burned almost to the ground. The committee faced three choices. First, to place a monument on the location of the church and move on. Second, to build a new, more modern church. Third, and most expensively, to build the church as an exact replica of the original. Obviously from the pictures, they chose the third, and most difficult option.
When I
This little country church is off the beaten path. Though located right in town, you'd be hard pressed to find it unless you were looking for it.
The inside is still in amazing shape, although the pews, and any religious symbols have been removed. Despite whatever period that has elapsed since its last use, it still smells like a church.
History:Â
The property on which this building stands was purchased for $25,000 as a joint effort of nine parishes. It is alleged that the property was formally a burial ground.
This orphanage was opened June 1, 1875, and administration handled by the Sisters of St. Francis with a starting population of 47 children.
