SAS to HOS

Missions San Jose, San Juan, Concepcion, Espada and San Antonio de Valero were all built in the early 1700's, and are now managed by the National Park Service. In the center of San Antonio today is the most famous of the five missions, San Antonio de Valero, more widely known as The Alamo.

San Antonio is known for its remarkable history, thriving culture, eclectic art community, and vibrant tourism opportunities. Featuring such areas as the Tower of the Americas, River Walk, Alamo Dome, and many award winning restaurants and resorts, the city has become one of the top tourism destinations in the country, drawing visitors from all over the world.

The Mision San Antonio de Valero, now known as the Alamo, was constructed in 1724 and served as a residence for missionaries and Native American converts for almost seventy years...until Spanish officials took over the property and parceled out the land in 1793. By the early 1800's, the Alamo was a station for the Spanish cavalry unit and remained a military base until the Texas Revolution...but by this time it had fallen into disrepair.

Every day the skies around San Antonio are filled with military planes that take off from Randolph Air Force Base, which is situated to the north of San Antonio. Named after Captain William Millican Randolph, the base is often referred to as the Showplace of the Air Force.

The town of Cibolo has long been tied to the natural resources of Texas and the Cibolo Creek itself. As the train enters the town of Cibolo you will see for a brief moment the small yet historical community that has cherished the land it depends on.

If you look at a map of the region between San Antonio and Houston, you will find town names that reflect the diversity and culture of this changing landscape. Names like Weimar, La Grange, Praha, Dubina, Schulenburg and Seguin reveal the tapestry of various cultures that have settled here.

As you catch a glimpse of a wide river in east-central Texas, imagine the things that old river has seen throughout time. People have relied on the Brazos and Colorado rivers for transportation, irrigation and other uses, and we continue to enjoy them today.