MISSION CONCEPTION

Mission de Nuestra Señora de la Conception de la Purisma de Acuña (whew!) was established in 1716, took over twenty years to build and was formerly dedicated in December of 1755. It was originally painted with bright designs by local craftsmen -- quatrefoils of red, blue, orange and yellow. It is the oldest unrestored mission in America, meaning its roof never caved in, like the other old missions. It was abandoned around 1819 and served as army barracks in the late 1840's and later used as a cattle pen. In 1887 it was rededicated as a parish church. It is perhaps the most beautiful of San Antonio's five missions and is the setting for several romantic ghost stories. It is also near a site of a pre-Alamo battle for Texas independence.