The United Nations have chosen the Alamo and four other Spanish colonial Catholic missions in Texas as U.S World Heritage sites. This will be the first time that a site in Texas has been considered an important heritage to humany.
USA Today reported that these landmarks in Texas are enjoined with the likes of Grand Canyon national parks, Philadelphia's Independence Hall, Statue of Liberty, Yellowstone national Park, Thomas Jefferson's Virginia home, plus over a thousand others worldwide.
UNESCO also named Britain's Stonehenge, Cambodia's Angkor Wat, the Great Barrier Reef, and India's Taj Mahal.
Besides the Alamo, other shrines newly recognized by the UNESCO that have "world heritage" status are Concepción, San Jose, San Juan, and Espada. These shrines are found in San Antonio.
In Daily Mail UK, the online paper said that the sites in Texas are regarded as the melting pot of the U.S. Susan Snow, who is an archaeologist, said that the missions are the embodiment of the interchange of cultures which reunites the indigenous people including the Mexican, Spanish and other groups, thus form the South Texas today. It was recalled that the missions were constructed in the 18th century. It was essential in converting the indigenous people to Catholicism and made them the Spanish subjects then.
CS Monitor shared in their report a portion of the inspection report of UNESCO. According to the inspection report, "The San Antonio Missions are an exceptionally complete example of the Spanish Crown's efforts to colonize, evangelize, and defend its empire. The missions are also testimony to an interweaving of cultures from the European and North American continents." In addition, the UNESCO said that the 5 missiones are also a great illustration of mission complexes lying in proximity and sharing a universal approach to defense.
The UNESCO also noted that recognizing the shrines will add potential economic impact on San Antonio and Bexar County. It would generate a possible income and providing jobs to the people around the area.
