<P> Mission San Antonio de Valero was established on May 1, 1718, as the first Spanish mission along the San Antonio River . It was named for San Antonio de Padua, the patron saint of the mission's founder, Father Antonio de Olivares as well as for the viceroy of New Spain, the Marquis de Valero . The mission later became known as the Alamo . </P> <P> Its first location was west of San Pedro Springs, and after being moved several times, it was finally established above a bend in the San Antonio River, where it would be easy to defend . The early mission buildings were made of grass, and the first stone building was built in 1727 . The building now known as the Alamo was not built until 1744, and most of its actual structure does not remain . The mission eventually grew to include a granary, workhouse, and rooms for the priests, native peoples, and soldiers . To protect from frequent Apache raids, a wall surrounded the buildings . Outside the wall were farmlands and ranches owned by the mission . </P> <P> The mission served the Coahuiltecan Native Americans until 1793, when mission activities ended . At that time the land and livestock were divided among the thirty - nine Indians remaining at the mission . The buildings later served as a home for a Mexican army unit before becoming a military hospital in 1806 . During the Texas Revolution, the buildings served as the site of the Battle of the Alamo, and during the Mexican--American War supplies for the U.S. Army were stored there . The buildings are now owned by the state of Texas and operated as memorial by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas . </P> <P> Shortly after its founding, Mission San Antonio de Valero became overcrowded with refugees from the closed East Texas missions, and Father Antonio Margil received permission from the governor of Coahuila and Texas, the Marquis de San Miguel de Aguayo, to build a new mission . On February 23, 1720, the new mission, San José y San Miguel de Aguayo was established 5 miles (8 km) south of San Antonio de Valero . Like San Antonio de Valero, Mission San José served the Coahuiltecan natives . The first buildings, made of brush, straw, and mud, were quickly replaced by large stone structures, including guest rooms, offices, a dining room, and a pantry . A heavy outer wall was built around the main part of the mission, and rooms for 350 Indians were built into the walls . </P>

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