Espada Aqueducts~Then to Now

Espada Aqueduct carries water from the beginning of the San Antonio River across where Piedras Creek is; the water continues to provide for the mission irrigation system. To go out to the aqueduct today and see it still stand today with hearing the water as it flows on by; I could only imagine if it sounded that same way years ago when the people who built the missions were still alive. I also think the river helped the missions when people needed directions. I feel that it had a wonderful impact on the missions and it made a difference. I read an article on the web at: http://www.historicbridgefoundation.com/ipages/texas/southtx/bexar/aqueduct.html and it says how it was completed in 1740 and it goes into details about the dam and what-not. Reading the article on the web I said “Even so, the dam, ditch, and aqueduct survived a century of Indian attacks, ravaging floods, and controversy before the Espada Ditch Ompany repaired the dam, in 1895. In 1941, to help insure the preservation of this singular colonial aqueduct, the San Antonio Conservation Society purchased the adjacent lands.” What excites me is that still today by the Missions and the aqueducts some or most of the residents are Native Americans. I think it’s important today that we have the missions and the aqueducts because it’s a part of our life and our culture and who we are. Anyone can read about the Espada Aqueducts but to go there and see it and to know it’s a massive part of history; it’s impressive to see it still stand today and have more meaning. I just think back then people cared about their environment and did what they could to take care of things. Now I’m not saying people don’t care but obviously some people don’t because it was depressing for me to visit the aqueducts today and see the main sign spray painted on. Even the sign is a part of history. Because of history the missions and aqueducts we’re who we are and where we are. What if the water wasn’t there back then? Would we be here still today? History is important, it teaches you why things are the way they are. Today still having the aqueducts, knowing it’s a landmark, knowing its history, knowing everything that has happened there, still having water flow on by; it’s all incredibly important.

Another thing that’s remarkable about the Espada Aqueducts is the architecture. “16th century Spanish explorers knew that water meant life, success, and survival,” written by Public works project.