San Antonio is the nation's 10th-largest city, boasting 1.3 million residents. But even with its population, San Antonio is still a quaint old town with Spanish missions and adobe buildings adorning the city. The name, San Antonio, was given to the city back in 1718 when Spanish missionaries established a permanent colony and the San Antonio de Valero Mission. These days that mission is better known as the Alamo. The Alamo is only one of the missions that people often think about when they think of the city of San Antonio. Mision Concepcion and Mision San Jose were also built in the 1700s. A trip through these missions offers a glimpse at some of the best examples of mission life from that time period. In 1968 the city celebrated its 250th birthday, since then tourists have been able to enjoy attractions such as: The Tower of the Americas, the Institute of Texan Cultures and the Mexican Cultural Institute. San Antonio is a city that is always a-work-in-progress, rich with architectural treasures that can be found down every street and around every corner.