Stone archway at Mission San Francisco de la Espada, better known today simply as "Mission Espada," in San Antonio, Texas.

Founded in 1690 by Spanish Franciscan friars as San Francisco de los Tejas near present-day Weches, Texas, this was the first mission in Texas. In 1731, as Spain's East Texas missions succumbed to drought, malaria, and French incursions, however, they were relocated to San Antonio. This mission was renamed Mission San Francisco de la Espada. A friary was built in 1745, and the church was completed in 1756. The settlement was intended to convert local Native Americans to Christianity and solidify Spanish territorial claims in the New World against encroachment from France. Today, the structure is one of four missions that comprise San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. "Espada" in Spanish translates to "sword" (feminine) or "matador" (masculine) in English, and the mission's full title to "St. Francis of the Sword." Photo by Carol Highsmith.