Historic Road Trip: San Antonio
When visitors venture beyond the River Walk area, they find a remarkable range of heritage tourism sites in a fascinating city that’s downright ancient by Texas standards.
Mission San Jose (2022) by Travel TexasCasa Navarro State Historic Site
San Antonio’s Origins
San Antonio’s origins are tied to the 1718 San Antonio de Bexar Presidio and the nearby village of San Fernando de Bexar, chartered in 1731 by a group of Canary Islanders. Spain established five missions along the San Antonio River in the early 18th century, including the Alamo (Mission San Antonio de Valero) and four others now part of San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
The Spanish Governor’s Palace was completed in 1749, and, nearly 10 years later, San Fernando Cathedral was built just around the corner. San Antonio went on to flourish in the late 1800s and early 1900s thanks to railroads, highway systems, and military bases. By the middle of the 20th century, the city became a major travel destination due to its moderate climate and dynamic history.
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Cultural Attractions
One of the best places to experience San Antonio’s past is Casa Navarro State Historic Site. The property is the original 1850s home of José Antonio Navarro, leading advocate for Tejano rights and one of only two native-born Texans to sign the Texas Declaration of Independence.
Visitors get a sense of mid-19th century Texas as they walk among the site’s charming whitewashed adobe structures topped by roofs with rugged wood shingles. The site was named a National Historic Landmark in 2017.
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San Antonio Missions
Everyone remembers the Alamo, but don’t forget about the other four historic structures of San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. The missions were named a UNESCO world heritage site in 2015. One of the best ways to visit them is on a bike along the Mission Trail.
Highlights include Mission Espada—the oldest of the original missions, founded in 1690 and moved to the San Antonio River in 1731—and Mission San Joséknown as the “Queen of the Missions” due to its enviable size, ornate architectural details, and thriving mission complex.
San Fernando Cathedral Exterior (2022) by Texas Historical CommissionCasa Navarro State Historic Site
San Fernando Cathedral
Another one of the city’s most prominent buildings is the remarkable San Fernando Cathedral, listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Gothic Revival structure—consecrated in 1873—features lofty arches, a gilded 24-ft-tall altar, and enormous stained-glass windows.
Bexar County Courthouse (2022) by Texas Historical CommissionCasa Navarro State Historic Site
Bexar County Courthouse
For those strolling around the picturesque plaza, be sure to admire the magnificent Bexar County Courthouse, a Romanesque Revival structure designed by J. Riely Gordon in the 1890s and restored through the THC’s Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program.
Nearby, the circa-1749 Spanish Governor’s Palace served as the headquarters of the ranking representative of the king of Spain. Particularly striking are the palace’s three-foot-thick stone walls, eclectic mix of historic artifacts, and lush courtyard.
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Spanish Governor’s Palace
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King William Historic District
Another one of the city’s premier heritage areas is the King William Historic District, just south of downtown. Greek Revival, Victorian, and Italianate homes stand on pleasant tree-lined streets in this 25-square-block area.
The King William Historic District is one of the first Texas districts to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Most of the homes are privately owned, but two are open to the public for tours. The 1859 Guenther House contains a museum of milling history and features elaborate woodwork from a 1915 restoration. Steves Homestead, a stunning three-story mansion constructed in 1876, boasts the city’s first indoor swimming pool.
Explore Historic Road Trip Part II for more historical fun facts.
Content is provided by the Texas Historical Commission, which manages over 30 State Historic Sites, the Texas Heritage Trails Program, Texas Main Street Program, and many more heritage tourism and historic preservation initiatives across the state.
