The historic San Antonio Missions, recognized globally a decade ago as having “outstanding universal value,” played a role in the American Revolution that Texans will learn more about as the nation approaches its 250th birthday.
Ten years have passed since the missions were recognized by an international panel in Bonn, Germany as the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas on July 5, 2015. According to a 349-page site nomination, while a mix of Spanish and Indigenous cultures could be found at other places in the Western Hemisphere, “there existed in San Antonio a level of respect for the Indigenous peoples that was uncharacteristic elsewhere.”
In comparison to historic missions in Mexico, California and elsewhere, “the ensemble of San Antonio Missions ranks first,” the application said.
The 10-year anniversary of the UNESCO inscription is being recognized by the state-owned Alamo and federally run San Antonio Missions National Historical Park as a time to highlight the “rare and prestigious honor” that elevated the five local missions “as a unified cultural landmark, celebrating their global significance and the essential role they’ve played in shaping Texas and the United States.”…