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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, July 5, 2025, marked the 10th anniversary of the |
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designation of the San Antonio Missions as a UNESCO World Heritage |
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Site; and |
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WHEREAS, Through its World Heritage program, UNESCO |
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recognizes important cultural sites around the globe and encourages |
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their preservation; since receiving the designation in 2015, the |
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collection of five historic missions in San Antonio has had the |
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distinction of being the first and only UNESCO World Heritage Site |
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in Texas as well as one of only 24 in the entire United States; and |
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WHEREAS, The San Antonio Missions site includes Mission |
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San Antonio de Valero, or the Alamo, Mission Concepción, Mission |
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San José, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada; situated along a |
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stretch of the San Antonio River basin, these frontier mission |
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complexes encompass churches and other historic structures, |
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including residencies and granaries, as well as a ranch southeast |
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of San Antonio; and |
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WHEREAS, The complexes trace their history to the early 18th |
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century, when Franciscan missionaries led the effort to colonize, |
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evangelize, and defend the northern frontier of New Spain; the |
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missions included all the components required to establish |
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self-sustaining communities in what was then a remote part of |
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Spain's North American empire; in addition, the missions illustrate |
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the interweaving of the Spanish colonial and Indigenous cultures, |
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as illustrated by features such as the decorative elements of |
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churches, which combine Catholic symbols with nature-inspired |
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designs derived from the Native Americans who settled at the |
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complexes; and |
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WHEREAS, The San Antonio Missions reflect the rich cultural |
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heritage of the Lone Star State, and it is a pleasure to join in |
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honoring these historic landmarks on this special occasion; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby commemorate the 10th |
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anniversary of the designation of the San Antonio Missions as a |
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UNESCO World Heritage Site and extend to all those affiliated with |
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the site sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the missions as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |