Publications
Intergenerational Identity Theory: Through the lens of the San Antonio Mission Descendants
San Antonio Mission descendants' identity is dynamically shaped by intergenerational memory, inherited stories, and colonial systems, challenging fixed notions of ancestry. Intergenerational Identity Theory, developed from Rudy De la Cruz's framework, reveals that identity emerges through lived experience, survival strategies, and silence, rather than being solely inherited or imposed. This study highlights how descendants navigate narratives of missionization, Mexican and Mexican American identity, and federal recognition while resisting the erasure of Coahuiltecan peoples. Through oral histories and community engagement, it demonstrates that healing, reclamation, and self-definition are ongoing forms of Indigenous survival.
Sustainable Rural Tourism Development Proposal at Mission Espada in San Antonio, Texas
A sustainable rural tourism model at Mission Espada, Texas, aims to diversify urban-centric tourism and revitalize the local agrarian economy. The proposal focuses on a 612-hectare site accessible via a scenic, low-traffic road from Mission Espada, offering tourists an immersive experience of Texas's rural life, including agriculture, dairy, livestock, and equestrian activities. This approach seeks to reverse rural-to-urban migration by creating employment opportunities and supporting small businesses while preserving cultural heritage. The development leverages the site's proximity to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, ensuring accessibility and sustainability.
Impact of diverse genres of sacred music on the Revitalising Soundscape of Mission Concepcion Church in San Antonio, Texas
A study on Mission Concepción Church, part of the UNESCO-listed San Antonio Missions, reveals that different genres of sacred music significantly impact auditory perceptions such as loudness, sharpness, tonality, clarity, and intimacy. The saxophone rendition was perceived as the 'loudest,' 'clearest,' 'most tonal,' and 'most intimate' at the President’s Window, while solo-voice renditions evoked a sense of 'stillness' at the Nave (p = 0.07). These findings suggest that specific musical genres can enhance the sensory experience in historic worship spaces, contributing to efforts to revitalize the soundscape for tourists seeking a sacred experience.
Let’s see the whole picture: a multi-platform visual analysis of historic Mission San José on Instagram, Pinterest, Flickr, and TripAdvisor
A multi-platform visual analysis of historic Mission San José reveals that each social networking site (SNS) offers a unique perspective on the heritage tourist destination. The study, which analyzed user-generated photographs and content from Instagram, Pinterest, Flickr, and TripAdvisor, found significant differences in how tourists visualize and communicate their experiences across these platforms. These findings underscore the importance of examining visual content from multiple SNSs to better understand perceived destination image, particularly in heritage tourism contexts. The research employed a case study approach, focusing on Mission San José in San Antonio, Texas, to explore how different SNSs are utilized by tourists and how historic visual narratives are presented in contemporary online spaces.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park: Geologic resources inventory report
A comprehensive geologic resources inventory report for San Antonio Missions National Historical Park reveals critical insights into the park's geologic heritage, features, and processes. The study synthesizes findings from scoping meetings held in 2008 and 2023, providing a detailed framework for managing visitor safety, infrastructure planning, and the preservation of natural and cultural resources. Key contributions include an analysis of geologic history and resource management issues, along with guidance for park managers. The report also integrates previously completed GIS data and a poster, offering a robust toolkit for interpretation and decision-making in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Texas Heritage at a Crossroads: The Case Study of San Antonio Missions
Balancing public access with heritage preservation at UNESCO World Heritage Sites remains a critical challenge, as demonstrated by the case of San Antonio Missions. The study reveals that integrating Social Learning Theory (SLT), Norm Activation Theory (NAT), and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) provides actionable insights for managing visitor behavior to safeguard site integrity while fostering educational and cultural engagement. By analyzing how individuals learn through observation, imitation, and modeling, researchers offer a framework to mitigate vandalism and promote responsible tourism without restricting access entirely.
The San Antonio Missions
Differences in location, use, and maintenance significantly impact the current condition of historic Spanish missions. A comparative analysis of San José y Miguel de Aguayo (1768–1782) and Nuestra Señora de las Purisima Concepción de Acuña (1740–1755) reveals how these factors influence their preservation despite shared construction techniques, materials (local tufa, limestone, and lime), climate, and historical context. The study highlights the resilience of mission architecture while underscoring the need for tailored conservation strategies based on site-specific conditions.
Estimating cultural heritage sites effect on food and accommodations with synthetic controls
UNESCO World Heritage Sites can significantly boost local tourism, but their impact varies. A study applying synthetic control methods to Poverty Point and the San Antonio Missions found a statistically significant positive effect on food and accommodations industries for Poverty Point in West Carroll Parish, Louisiana, following its UNESCO accreditation. However, no comparable effect was detected for the San Antonio Missions in Texas. The research used Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2008 to 2020, marking the first application of this method to two cultural heritage sites. This suggests that while some sites drive tourism growth, others may not, highlighting the need for tailored strategies to maximize economic benefits.
Preliminary Geological Investigation of Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de Acuña for San Antonio Missions National Historical Park & World Heritage Site
A preliminary geological investigation of Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de Acuña, part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site, reveals ongoing subsidence of its limestone foundation. This subsidence has led to structural issues such as wall cracking, dissolution of the foundation's exterior, and the past appearance of a sinkhole adjacent to the building. The study employed ground-penetrating radar to detect changes in the bedrock beneath the compound and high-resolution coordinate and elevation data to monitor future subsidence. Chemical analysis of rainwater runoff from the church’s roof was conducted to assess its role in foundation dissolution. Comparisons between topographic profiles derived from county-wide lidar datasets and independently gathered data identified areas potentially requiring future maintenance. These findings highlight the need for continued monitoring and intervention to preserve this historic structure.
Local interpretations of classical models: The architecture of San Antonio mission churches, Texas
San Antonio Missions represent a unique syncretic architectural achievement. The study reveals that these 18th-century Franciscan mission churches, built by Indigenous peoples under Franciscan guidance, incorporated European Counter-Reformation models while adapting local materials and techniques. Analysis of three missions demonstrates recurring design elements linked to Italian innovations, alongside the use of nearby quarried stone dressed into decorative patterns. This fusion of imported cultural models with indigenous construction know-how underscores the missions' authenticity as hybrid structures.
Integrated Surface and Subsurface Geological Mapping of the Valley of the Missions, San Antonio, Texas
A multistrand fault zone beneath Mission Concepción, San Antonio, Texas, may have facilitated the ascent of warm waters through thick Upper Cretaceous mudstone, contributing to the formation of a spring deposit (tufa) used in constructing two historic missions. This finding emerges from an integrated surface and subsurface geological mapping project conducted at a 1:24,000 scale across the Valley of the Missions. The study leverages well control data drilled for the Edwards Aquifer to infer fault locations and bedrock outcrops or subcrops, addressing the scarcity of surface outcrops in the area. Additionally, the research identifies mappable transitions from clay to sandy soils, correlating with thin Poth sandstones and related siltstone units recognized subsurface. This work aims to deepen understanding of the missions' setting, their resource utilization, and to inform conservation efforts while guiding metropolitan development.
Review of Short-term Rentals and Their Potential Social Impact
Short-term rentals (STRs) in historic neighborhoods, such as those along the San Antonio Missions World Heritage Buffer Zone, pose significant risks to community stability and cultural heritage if left unregulated. This study highlights that while STRs can boost tourism, they also contribute to gentrification and displacement of local residents, threatening the authenticity of these areas. The research analyzes regulated, unregulated, and grandfathered STRs in South San Antonio neighborhoods, revealing a rapid increase in STR presence post-2015 World Heritage Site inscription. Findings underscore the need for proactive growth management policies to balance tourism benefits with community preservation, ensuring that historic neighborhoods retain their original character without succumbing to economic pressures.
Accelerating cultural heritage tourism in San Antonio: a community-based tourism development proposal for the missions historic district
Cultural heritage tourism can sustain economic prosperity while preserving local authenticity, but deliberate planning is required to mitigate negative impacts. This study demonstrates that community-based tourism development in the San Antonio Missions Historic District could accelerate economic and social benefits—such as job creation, infrastructure improvement, and small business growth—while preventing gentrification and cultural displacement. By integrating sustainable practices, the research proposes a model that balances tourism expansion with the preservation of historic and cultural integrity, reinforcing connections to the river and supporting San Antonio's potential World Heritage designation. The approach leverages heritage tourism as an economic tool while safeguarding local identity and environmental sustainability.
Architectural design studio on sustainable tourism alternatives in the San Antonio Missions Historic District
A study led by The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) identified sustainable tourism alternatives to enhance the attractiveness and efficiency of the San Antonio Missions Historic District, a potential UNESCO World Heritage Site. Through a design studio course, students explored culinary tourism, cultural heritage tourism, and rural tourism, developing master plans that address economic, historical, social, and cultural dimensions while promoting sustainable development practices. The research leveraged advanced design theory to propose innovative tourist spaces and activities, aiming to expand tourism offerings beyond the downtown Riverwalk area and strengthen connections to the Missions. This approach offers a model for balancing visitor appeal with heritage preservation in historic urban landscapes.
Cultural heritage tourism and authenticity: San Antonio Missions Historic District
San Antonio Missions Historic District offers significant potential for community-based cultural heritage tourism, fostering economic and social benefits while preserving authenticity. The study highlights the district's ability to attract visitors through its unique historical narrative, landscape, and culture, contributing to local pride, revenue generation, and job creation. It also emphasizes the importance of balancing tourism growth with the preservation of residents' quality of life and cultural identity. The research explores strategies for small businesses to integrate into the heritage tourism economy while sustaining the district's authenticity. By leveraging historic preservation as a tool for community revitalization, this approach aims to mitigate the negative impacts often associated with mass tourism.
Cultural heritage tourism research: a sustainable community-based design project for the San Antonio Mission Historic District
A multi-year project aims to restore and enhance 13 miles of the San Antonio River, focusing on two segments: Museum Reach and Mission Reach. The Mission Reach segment, which overlaps with the historic San Antonio Missions, is designed to connect the four missions—Concepcion, San Jose, San Juan, and Espada—to the river through 'Mission Portals.' These portals will feature historical and artistic interpretations, highlighting the social and cultural significance of the missions. The research demonstrates how sustainable development practices can optimize economic, historical, social, and cultural dimensions to support heritage tourism in South San Antonio, potentially advancing the Missions as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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