Mission San Francisco de la Espada (Mission Espada)

Mission San Francisco de la Espada was established in 1690 and relocated to its current San Antonio site in 1731. Its church, mission compound, and the associated Espada acequia and aqueduct were laid out using Spanish colonial surveying and irrigation planning practices. The Espada Aqueduct, part of the mission’s acequia system, dates to the 18th century and is documented in archival maps and National Park Service records. The mission is part of San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and the San Antonio Missions UNESCO World Heritage Site.