SAN ANTONIO, July 5, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The wait
is finally over: The San Antonio Missions have officially been
designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The decision was announced
on July 5th at the annual
UNESCO World Heritage committee meeting in Bonn, Germany. An elite list with just 22
existing U.S. landmarks included, the five Missions (including The
Alamo) are taking their place among other great American historic
and cultural institutions like the Statue of Liberty and
Independence Hall, in addition to natural treasures such as the
Grand Canyon and world wonders like the Great Wall of China. The Missions, which are the largest
collection of the Spanish colonial architecture in the U.S., are
the third designation in the country in the last 20 years.
San Antonio's Missions
symbolize an era when the world was expanding, cultures were
intertwining, and the global landscape was forever changed.
It's time now to "Remember the Alamo," the first San Antonio
Mission.
"The United States has a
powerful and valuable history that encompasses a wide range of
peoples, creeds and experiences," said Crystal Nix-Hines, U.S. ambassador and permanent
representative to UNESCO. "The San Antonio Missions represent an
important element of our story, and a World Heritage designation
allows them to be shared not only within the U.S. but also the
wider global community."
Susan Snow, archeologist for San
Antonio Missions National Historical Park who has been coordinating
the community efforts to secure UNESCO World Heritage status since
2007, said, "The San Antonio Missions are a tangible representation
of everything required for a functioning Spanish colonial mission
system, all within a short trek along the San Antonio River. These
Missions are a living example of the interchange of cultures
bringing together the indigenous, Spanish, Mexican, and other
influences that form South Texas
today. The resulting cross-cultural exchange is the very
essence of the great melting pot of the
United States."
"San Antonio has grown to
become the nation's seventh-largest city while preserving the
iconic history upon which it was built," said Casandra Matej, Executive Director of the San
Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Treasures like The
Missions set us apart as an authentic destination, and now with
World Heritage status, we are provided a tremendous opportunity to
bring even more awareness, visitors and business to our city."
Major Economic Impact
A UNESCO designation is a
catalyst for socio-economic change, with increased visitation and
tourist spending. According to the U.S. Travel Association,
$928 billion was generated by
domestic and international travelers in 2014, placing tourism as
one of our nation's largest economic generators and spurring an
additional $1.2 trillion in other
industries.
For San Antonio, the impact
will be even more significant, as tourism is one of the city's top
five industries, providing one in eight jobs and more than
$12 billion annually. By 2025, the
World Heritage Site economic impact on San Antonio and Bexar County is expected to generate an
additional $44 million -$105 million
in economic activity, with over 1,100 newly created jobs.
History of the Missions
As the largest collection of
Spanish colonial architecture in the U.S., Mission Concepcion,
Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan, Mission Espada and Mission San
Antonio de Valero (The Alamo) were built in the early 1700s to
convert Native Americans to Christianity and help settle this
region under the flag of Spain.
Straddling either side of the spring-fed San Antonio River, the
five Missions are uniquely close to one another, spanning just over
seven miles. They proved critical to Texas' iconic history and heritage, shaping
the San Antonio landscape with
their acequias, farmfields, ranchlands, and compounds. Indigenous
people and people from around the empire of New Spain were brought
together to share technologies, art and cultures. The Missions
continued to play an important role in early Mexican history and in
the struggle for Texas
independence. These contributions are still seen in the modern
layout of the streets and neighborhoods of San Antonio.
The Missions survived for decades, creating a distinctive
culture that blended native traditions with newly adopted Spanish
ways. Communally, they have shaped the personality of San Antonio, now the nation's seventh-largest
city, as a melting pot of Latino, Native American and Western
cultures.
The Mission Experience Today
As protected historic
sites, the Missions host millions of visitors each year. All
except The Alamo are still active Catholic parishes, some with
descendants of the original congregants.
Whether a visitor is interested in attending a mariachi mass,
hiking from Mission to
Mission or simply enjoying a
self-guided tour, there are many ways to immerse oneself in the
days and influences of colonial Spain.
- Mission Reach River Walk: The Missions are now
linked by the newly expanded River
Walk, a network of garden-bordered paths along the San
Antonio River that connect much of the city's history with hotels,
restaurants, theaters and more. Following a recent
$358 million renovation extending it
from three to 15 miles, guests have the opportunity to hike or bike
from Mission to Mission as well as kayak certain sections of
the river.
- A Tour 300 Years in the Making: With their
limestone facades and picturesque bell towers, the Missions bring
to life a bygone era. All are open to the public free of
charge. Tours allow visitors to walk the historic grounds and
explore living quarters and churches, while hearing centuries-old
stories from studied park rangers.
- Museum & Award-Winning Film: Mission
San Jose, often referred to as the
"Queen of the Missions," provides an ideal starting point.
Its museum exhibits artifacts that explain the diverse tasks
found within the Spanish missions. An on-site theater shows
the award-winning film Gente de Razon, which tells the story
of the native people of 18th-century South Texas, their role in colonizing New
Spain and the impact of the Spanish Missions.
- Reliving the Story of the Alamo: The famed
Alamo offers its iconic shrine,
Long Barracks Museum, audio tours, and numerous historic buildings.
Living history demonstrations and battle reenactments also play
vital roles in the educational offerings of the modern-day
Alamo.
Visit www.WorldHeritageSA.com for images, b-roll, backgrounders,
and vital links.
Login: SAMediaPartners@gmail.com
Password: missions
Interviews are available upon request.
To learn more about San
Antonio, visit www.visitsanantonio.com.
CONTACT:
Sara Gruber,
San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau
Cell: 210-535-1253
Office: 210-207-6783
saragruber@visitsanantonio.com
Jennifer Reisfeld, Spring O'Brien
Cell: 914-525-1138
Office: 212-402-1624
jennifer@spring-obrien.com
Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iyGTbZe1R0
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Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150703/228101
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SOURCE San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau