1402-1495
Spain conquered and colonized Canary Islands; the archipelago became Spain’s first successful overseas colonial experiment.

1492
Christopher Columbus began voyage to the New World after stopping in the Canary Islands.

1691
Fray Damian Massanet celebrated Mass on June 13, feast day of San Antonio de Padua; named river in saint’s honor.

1718
Mission San Antonio de Valero (later El Alamo) and Presidio San Antonio de Bexar established by Fray Antonio Olivares and Governor Martin de Alarcon, respectively.

1720
Fray Antonio Margli de Jesus founded Mission San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo; Governor, the Marques de Aguayo, with four presidios and ten missions firmly established Spain’s claim to the Province of Texas.

1731
Sixteen Canary Islands families arrived at Presidio San Antonio de Bexar (March 9) and later inaugurated the first municipal government in Texas; Missions Nuestra Señora de la Purisima Concepcion de Acuña, San Juan Capistrano, and San Francisco de la Espada, transferred from east Texas, reestablished (March 5) along the San Antonio River.

1738
Canary Islands parishioners installed the cornerstone of San Fernando Church.

1772
Presidio San Antonio de Bexar designated new capital of the Province of Texas; former Capitañia (captain’s quarters) became official office of the Spanish Governor of Texas.

1821
Mexican Independence celebrated in San Fernando Church and Plaza de las Islas.

1836
Siege of the Alamo (Feb. 23-March 6); Texan Independence from Mexico won on the Plain of San Jacinto.

1845
United States of America annexed Texas as 28th State of the Union.

1873
Expansion of San Fernando Church completed; designated a Cathedral in 1874, when the Vatican created the new Diocese of San Antonio with the Rt. Rev. Anthony Dominic Pellicer as its first Bishop.

1877
First passenger train arrived San Antonio depot.

1879
First telephone installed in San Antonio.

1911
Fiesta Association organized.

1924
San Antonio Conservation Society organized.

1926
The Vatican elevated the Diocese of San Antonio to the rank of Archbishopric.

1928
Milam Building recognized as first fully air-conditioned office building in world.

1968
Hemisfair ’68 opened April 6, closed October 6.

1969
University of Texas at San Antonio authorized by state legislature.

1973
San Antonio Spurs began 1st season.

1974
Canary Islands Descendants Association organized.

1981
San Antonio celebrated 250 years of municipal government.

1999
Government of the Canary Islands Office in San Antonio inaugurated.

 2006
275th Anniversary observance of the contribution by Canary Islands settlers to San Antonio’s multicultural heritage.