On Saturday the Mission San José Tricentennial Mural will be unveiled at San Antonio Missions National Historical Park in Texas.

The mural, Heritage, was created by local artist and teacher Sandra Gonzalez. Heritage commemorates 300 years since Mission San José’s founding in 1720. Gonzalez's artwork respectfully acknowledges the city and mission community’s cultural and natural history. The mural will be located on the exterior of the Visitor Center at 6701 San José Drive in San Antonio facing Roosevelt Avenue. The virtual unveiling ceremony will be broadcast on the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Facebook page.

“San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is excited to unveil this new mural to commemorate the tricentennial of Mission San José and allow visitors to explore the modern cultural impact of a complex history in San Antonio,” said Superintendent Christine Jacobs. “The tricentennial year is a time to contemplate the history of this site and reflect on our own connections with this historical place. The National Park Service is proud to partner with Luminaria, Mission Heritage Partners, and muralist Sandra Gonzalez to unveil this artistic representation of Mission San José.”

Artists of all backgrounds and media are influenced by the sights, sounds, and stories of San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. Each year, the national historical park invites the community to experience these interpretations during immersive national park experiences like the Artist-in-Residence Programs and events in partnership with Luminaria’s Contemporary Arts Festival. As an urban national park site, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is a place where historical traditions meet modern culture, art, and recreation.

The Mission San José Tricentennial Mural is supported by Mission Heritage Partners, the official friends of San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.

This mural was made possible through the Luminaria 2020 Placemaking program and marks another successful collaboration with San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. As a nonprofit arts organization, Luminaria is committed to supporting San Antonio's artists and to making the arts accessible to all.

“This kind of public art program celebrates San Antonio’s storied history – its culture, its people – and reminds us how we all share this place and this time," said Pam De la Mora, Luminaria’s digital media manager. "Art connects us, and that’s what this mural and Luminaria projects are all about."