Video: In the missions of San Antonio, echoes of 18th century Texas

You probably knew the Alamo was in San Antonio. You might have known it served as an 18^th century Spanish mission before it became an army garrison and battle site.

But unless you’re a Texan, I’m guessing you never knew that there’s a string of old Spanish missions along the San Antonio River, all within 10 miles of downtown and the Alamo.

This video roams through three of them: Concepcion, San Jose and San Juan. The National Park Service cares for them, and they make great places for quiet wandering, with or without a camera.

Oh, and if you want more of the Alamo – here you go.

“A Minute Away” is a video series in which nothing much happens -- except you see the world, and hear it, and get a minute’s respite from workaday life. (Actually, some are as long as 1:40.) These are quiet, casual moments, mostly just natural sound from Machu Picchu, Red Square, the Yucatan, the Alamo, an Alaska float plane, the reading room of the New York Public Library. We add new ones weekly, and we’ve got more than 60 of them now, so if you’d prefer a full hour away…