Saint Joseph Catholic Church in downtown San Antonio, Texas. The Gothic Revival house of worship is an example of what the Chinese describe as a nail house; when the church refused to sell to a property developer a large shipping mall was constructed around it. The cornerstone of the church was laid in 1868, and it was finally completed in 1871. It served a large and growing community of German immigrants.
In 1944, Joske's department store (whose site would eventually become part of the Rivercenter mall complex) offered to buy the church grounds in order to develop it commercially. Parishioners unanimously refused the offer to move from the site, and so instead Joske's built around the three sides of the church, earning the church from locals the moniker "Saint Joske's." A restoration was commenced in 1981.
Today, the parish serves as home to a multicultural community and as a popular attraction for tourists. Spanish-language masses are held with mariachi music, and the San Antonio Liederkranz male singers perform once a month. Photo by Carol Highsmith.