05/20/2026
Before San Antonio had a symbol, it had the Rose Window.
Carved into the limestone walls of Mission San José in 1775, the iconic Rose Window became one of the most recognizable designs in San Antonio history — inspiring the city’s visual identity for generations to come. The quatrefoil shape seen throughout San Antonio today traces back to this very window, created inside the “Queen of the Missions.”
Legend says master sculptor Pedro Huizar designed the Rose Window as a tribute to his beloved wife after her passing.
More than 250 years later, the design still lives on throughout San Antonio, in art, architecture, culture, and the spirit of the city itself.
The San Antonio Missions aren’t just historic landmarks. They are the foundation of San Antonio’s identity.
This is where the story of San Antonio was carved in stone.
