Alamo Plaza

#51 Alamo Plaza view north.

Media ID 148

AlamoplzaFolder-SAalamoplza20s.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1918. Subject: Photo crop of a Southern Pacific Lines photo card with handwritten message along margins. Photo on card is ca. 1917. View is north and elevated across plaza park almost certainly from the Gallagher Building (1877) at NE corner of Blum and Alamo. Margin message mentions Kelly Field #1 (opens 1917) and Line “C” (Existed June to November 1918).

#52 Alamo Plaza Aerial View.

Media ID 147

AlamoplzaFolder-SAalamoplz1918c.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1915-1920. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Plaza and City of San Antonio to the WNW. The Maverick Bank Building (1884-1921), named the Swearingen-McCraw Building after 1894 is evident at the SW corner of Houston and Alamo. The Hugo & Schmeltzer building has been razed (1915) and the Alamo Convento (Long Barracks) walls are espaliered. The North Plaza Park (1915-1939) is present.

#53 Plaza de Valaro

Media ID 149

AlamoplzaFolder-SAalamoplza1866.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: ca. 1856-1882. Subject: Photo crop of an early period photograph manipulated with line drawings. The view of the subject photograph is WNW across Plaza de Valero with the SW corner of the Market (meat) Building (1856-1882) in evidence. Originally known as the Plaza de Valero market, it quickly became the Alamo Plaza Meat Market as the Plaza de Valero was absorbed by Alamo Plaza. Photograph taken from a point along Blum Street. The Crockett street intersection is clearly depicted as it passes between and beyond (west) the two main buildings.

#54 Alamo Chapel and Plaza Park.

Media ID 144

AlamoplzaFolder-SAalamoplazaPrior1912.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1896-1908 Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Plaza. View is ENE from either the Grand Opera House (1886) or the Wickes Building (1886). The Alamo Saloon is in evidence, In business until 1908. The Alamo Plaza Police Station moved out of the Chapel and into the Hugo & Schmeltzer Building in 1896.

#55 Snow in Alamo Plaza.

Media ID 145

AlamoplzaFolder-SAAlamoPlazaunk.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1906. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Plaza. View is NNE across plaza from corner of Blum and Alamo Plaza. US Weather bureau indicates 3.0 inches on 18 December 1906. Photo is cropped to eliminate the ascription “PROPERTY OF THE DRT LIBRARY” at the bottom.

#56 Alamo Plaza crowd.

Media ID 143

AlamoplzaFolder-SAalamoplaza01171905.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 7 April 1905. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Plaza. View is east and elevated across the plaza from the Hotel Alamo (The Crockett Block-1882). The occasion is a speech by President Theodore Roosevelt during a Rough Rider Reunion in San Antonio.

#57 Alamo Plaza aerial view.

Media ID 142

AlamoplzaFolder-SAalamoplaza1941.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: Post 1940. Subject Photo crop of Alamo Plaza. View is ENE and aerial across plaza. Cenotaph (1940) is present on re-landscaped north traffic island. Plaza park and bandstand present. Faux ruins extend south from Alamo Chapel. Convento (Long Barracks) wall are espaliered.

#58 Alamo Plaza, west side.

Media ID 141

AlamoplzaFolder-SAalamoplaza1922.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 8 January 1922. Subject: Photo crop of a book photograph of Alamo Plaza. View is North on Alamo from the Crockett Street intersection. On the west side of Alamo; The San Antonio Club and Grand Opera House (1886), the Wickes Building (1886), the Hotel Alamo and the Crockett Block (1882), and the Woolworth building (1921) at the SW corner of Houston and Alamo. Then continuing north across Houston street, the Gibbs building (1909) on the NW corner of Houston and Alamo, across the street from the US Post Office and Courthouse (1890) on Houston. Book border ascription correctly details January 8, 1922 week beginning of play "Baby Mine" with an accompaning silent film staring Buck Jones as the exposure date.

#59 Alamo Chapel and environs

Media ID 140

AlamoplzaFolder-SAalamoPlaza1920s.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1922-1924. Subject: Slightly clearer photo crop of "photo #34". Photo crop of Alamo Plaza. Alamo Chapel in foreground (l). Convento (Long Barracks) exhibited as ruins. Tour vehicles at north sidewalk of plaza park. Quick Tire Service moves to 300 Alamo Plaza in 1922 and is present in photograph as is Standard Motor Sales at 314, which is vacant by 1924. The view is SSE and elevated, taken from (most probable) the Woolworth Building on the west side of Alamo Plaza.

#60 San Antonio Club and Grand Opera House

Media ID 136

AlamoplzaFolder-SAAlamoPlaza-GrOperaHouse-1888.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1886 -1890 Subject: Photo crop of the San Antonio Club and Grand Opera House (1886) also the Wickes building (1886). View is WNW from Blum Street. Photo is seemingly marred by streetcar passing and/or stopping in front of the building, unless that was the intended "artistry" of the exposure. Alamo Plaza Park (1890) is not present.

#61 View across Plaza Park

Media ID 137

AlamoplzaFolder-SAalamoplaza.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: ca. 1921-1926. Subject: Photo crop of post card depicting Alamo Plaza. View is north and elevated across plaza from Gallagher (1877) building. Woolworth Building (1921) is present, the Medical Arts Building (1926) is not.

#62 View north across plaza park.

Media ID 138

AlamoplzaFolder-SAalamoPlaza1893ViewNorth.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1895. Subject: Photo crop of book page with ascription of "ALAMO PLAZA 1895". The foliage certainly seems to be doing well.

#63 Alamo Plaza parade.

Media ID 139

AlamoplzaFolder-SAalamoplaza1898.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1898. Poor photo crop of a San Antonio Conservation Society photograph of an 1898 parade of the 1st US Volunteer Cavalry (Rough Riders). View is SE across Alamo from the (almost certainly) the Reuter building (1891) with the Gallagher Building (1877) in the background. E.B. Franck Dry Goods Company moved to Alamo Plaza in 1898. There were no such parades in 1899.

#64 Alamo Chapel

Media ID 135

AlamoplzaFolder-SAalamop.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1917-1918. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Chapel. View is east. Convento (long Barracks) walls are espaliered and presented as barricaded ruins. Cafeteria sign present in 1917, not present in 1918.

#65 Alamo Chapel

Media ID 133

AlamoplzaFolder-SAalamoChapel1915.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1920s. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Chapel. View is east. Period vehicles in evidence.

#66 Alamo Chapel

Media ID 131

AlamoplzaFolder-SAalamo1926.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 24 Jan 1926. Subject: A photo crop of some of the Birdsong family (early automobile dealers in San Antonio) with a Franklin automobile at Alamo Chapel. Pole street lights are present. More than six inches of snow fell on 23-24 January. View is east from corner of "Long Barracks" sidewalk.

#67 Alamo Chapel

Media ID 132

AlamoplzaFolder-SAalamo1947.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: Unknown. Subject: Photo crop of an apparent tourist photograph of the Alamo Chapel showing 1935 rectangular entrance landscaping. View is east from midway along southern edge of grass, front of Chapel.

#68 Alamo Chapel

Media ID 134

AlamoplzaFolder-SAalamochapelPostUSArmy.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: ca. 1871-1877. Subject: Outstanding photo crop of Alamo Chapel and the cart station in front of chapel used for accounting for carts and loads. City was charging 50 cents a cartload for rubble stone from the ruins known as the Galera. The wheel and drag marks can clearly be seen approaching and leaving the station and its parameters between the four large stones. View is ENE from the plaza. Prior to Grenet Building (1877).

#69 Alamo Chapel and Convento.

Media ID 130

AlamoplzaFolder-SAalamo1913.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1913-1914. Subject: Alamo Chapel and convento walls. View is ENE from the plaza. Following the razing of the Grenet Building (1877) the second course of stonework along convento walls was built by order of Governor Colquitt. Second course will be removed by DRT in 1914. Ascription is a typed text "The Alamo" on center bottom banner with a figure followed by Brown Brothers in the lower right corner. Note: see photo 71.

#70 Alamo Chapel and Convento.

Media ID 129

AlamoplzaFolder-SAalamo1912.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1913-1914. Subject: Photo crop (color) of Alamo Chapel and convento walls. Color print of ID 130. Slightly different crop, i.e., view has been narrowed and depth of field changed.

#71 Alamo Chapel and environs

Media ID 128

AlamoplzaFolder-SAalamo1890s.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1866-1877. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Chapel showing the two story convento with dual, outside wood stairway and controlled access to the courtyard from the south. The second story of the convento and the famous campanulate and roof and second story of the chapel was the work of the US Army. View is ENE from the plaza.

#72 Zeppelin Over San Antonio

Media ID 123

AlamoplzaFolder-RabaNews_04ZeppelinOverAlamoPlaza.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1934. Subject: Photo crop of zeppelin above San Antonio. Probably the USS Macon (ZRS-5) during a cross country flight. View is NNE from a position that would seem to be on the south side of Commerce Street, west of the bridge.

#73 Alamo Chapel

Media ID 127

AlamoplzaFolder-SAalamo1865s.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1871-1877. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Chapel and convento wall. Very clear depiction of what I believe to be the city cart station. After purchase of the Galeria ruins (1871) the city was charging 50 cents a cartload for rubble stone from the old buildings. Slightly enhanced crop of "ID 134". View is ENE from plaza. Prior to Grenet Building (1877).

#74 Alamo Plaza Park

Media ID 124

AlamoplzaFolder-RXalamoplaza.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: ca. 1910. Subject: Photo crop of a post card front, depicting a SAPD officer and two men, one standing, one on ground, apparently drunk, at base of tree. Ascription is ALAMO PLAZA, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. View is most likely SSE from park sidewalk.

#75 Alamo Saloon

Media ID 126

AlamoplzaFolder-SA1890s.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1896-1908 Subject: Photo crop of an unknown group. The building/site has been a boarding house and/or saloon since 1885. the address of 314 E. Alamo Plaza is only indicated for 1896. It is 312 E. Alamo Plaza until the building is razed in 1908. View is ENE from the plaza.

#76 US Post Office and Customs House

Media ID 121

AlamoplzaFolder-PostOfficeAlamoPlaza.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1893-1904. Subject: Photo crop of US Post Office and Customs House (1890), North side of Alamo Plaza. Has the appearance of a Real Photograph Post Card (RPPC). Ascription reads; POST OFFICE. SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. View is NNE and elevated from the Maverick Bank building (1884). The R.A. Arthur Building(1893) is present just north of the Post Office at bottom left. It will become the Arthur Hotel in 1905 with the addition of a fourth floor.

#77 Razing of the US Post Office and Customs House

Media ID 122

AlamoplzaFolder-post-office-demolishtion-19351.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 24 August 1935. Subject: Photo crop of a contractor or WPA photograph showing the 1890 Post Office, north side of Alamo Plaza, being razed. View is NNE and elevated from (almost certainly) the Woolworth building (1921).

#78 US Post Office and Customs House

Media ID 120

AlamoplzaFolder-postoffice.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1893-1904 Subject: Photo crop of book page showing photograph of US Post Office (1890), north side of Alamo Plaza. Ascription at bottom of book page is THE POST OFFICE AND CUSTOM (sic) HOUSE and a number 20. View of book photograph is NNE at street level from corner of Houston and Alamo Plaza.

#79 Alamo Plaza - US Post Office and Customs House

Media ID 119

AlamoplzaFolder-postoff.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1890-1893. Subject: Photo crop of street work (most likely paving) being done in front of US Post Office. Note man in coat and tie turning hydrant on corner. View NNE and street level from Houston St. and Alamo Plaza.

#80 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 118

AlamoplzaFolder-Postcard1907.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 7 April 1905. Subject: Photo crop of a Post Card depicting a color manipulated photograph taken on the day of President Theodore Roosevelt’s speech at the Alamo during a "Rough Rider" reunion. Ascription with either (1) two mispellings or (2) a grammer mistake and a misspelling; “President Roosevelt speaking to an immense crowd on (sic) front of historic Aalamo (sic), San Antonio, Texas.”

#81 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 146

AlamoplzaFolder-SAalamoplz1895.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: ca. 1897. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Plaza. View is ESE from tower in Hugo & Schmeltzer (Grenet) Building (1877).

#82 View north across Alamo Plaza Park

Media ID 115

AlamoplzaFolder-pcAlplza03.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: N/A Subject: Photo crop of a Real Picture Post Card (RPPC) type souvenir card, depicting Alamo Plaza. Manufactured ascriptions: (lower left) “Greetings from San Antonio, Texas” within the photograph proper at lower right “ Alamo Plaza and “7 Nic Tengg.” A personal message is handwritten across bottom of card, dated 4/29/03. The original photograph was most likely taken about 1891 considering the park foliage.

#83 AlamoplzaFolder-pcalamoplz

Media ID 114

AlamoplzaFolder-pcalamoplz.jpg

Alamo Plaza San Antonio, TX

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: N/A Subject: Photo crop of the same but unused RPPC souvenir card as "ID 115".

#84 US Post Office and Customs House

Media ID 116

AlamoplzaFolder-po1.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: Subject: Photo crop of damaged photo or RPPC card depicting US Post Office and Alamo Plaza. Handwritten ascription in upper right “ San Antonio, Tex” with unclear date. Subject View is NNE and elevated. Original photograph has an exposure window of 1893-1904.

#85 US Post Office and Customs House

Media ID 117

AlamoplzaFolder-po1898.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1890-1893. Photo crop of US Post Office (1890) and Alamo Plaza. Chili Queen benches can just be seen extreme right of photograph at location following their displacement from Military Plaza. View is street level NNE from a point just south of the Maverick Bank (1884).

#86 The Menger Hotel

Media ID 112

AlamoplzaFolder-MengerHotelPrior1877.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1859. Subject: Photo crop, slightly different development crop, from "photo #38".

#87 View from the Menger Hotel

Media ID 113

AlamoplzaFolder-NEfromMenger1866.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: ca. 1866. Subject: Area view NE from the rear of the Menger Hotel (1859).

#88 The Menger Hotel

Media ID 111

AlamoplzaFolder-menger_hotel_san_antonio_texas_photo_of_histrical_photo1.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: ca. 1865. Subject: Photo crop of a mounted photograph of west (front) elevation of Menger Hotel with a typed ascription MENGER HOTEL CIRCA 1865. View is east from plaza.

#89 Photo strip of West Houston

Media ID 110

AlamoplzaFolder-MaverickBldEvolution.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: N/A Subject: Photo strip of three similar views of the intersection of Houston Street and Alamo Plaza over time, taken from similar location. The first was taken between 1890 and 1908 (Post Office-completed in 1890 is present. Gibbs building-begun in 1908 and completed in 1909,) is not. The second was taken after 1912 (New Moore Building, renovation completed in 1912, is present) and while horses had not yet been crowded off the street. The third was taken during the period of the downtown faux street cars (1983-2021).

#90 Maverick Bank Building

Media ID 108

AlamoplzaFolder-Maverick-Bank-Building1.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: ca. 1890. Subject: Photo crop of a social event at the Maverick Bank Building (1884). View is WSW across the Houston Street and Alamo Plaza intersection from Post Office corner. Note persons riding on top of the approaching street car.

#91 Alamo Plaza at Blum Street

Media ID 105

AlamoplzaFolder-Joskesunk.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: ca. 1925. Subject: Photo crop of North Alamo Street at Blum Street. The Plaza Theater (1911) is located within the reconditioned Gallagher Building (1877). Supporting the Giant Joske’s sign (purchased in the 1920s) is the Conroy Building (1909). View is ESE across the Alamo Street intersection and elevated, from (possibly) the Alamo Studio at 209 ½ Alamo Plaza.

#92 The Swearingen-McCraw Building

Media ID 109

AlamoplzaFolder-maverick-bank-building-19071.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1904-1909. Subject: Photo crop of intersection of East Houston at Alamo Plaza. View is west. The Maverick Bank Building (1884) in left foreground becomes the Swearingen-McCraw Building after purchase in 1894. Gibbs building (1909) is not yet present on NW corner. The Moore Building (1904) with its distinctive towers is present on NW side of Houston Street.

#93 AlamoplzaFolder-maverick-alamo-and-houston19071

Media ID 107

AlamoplzaFolder-maverick-alamo-and-houston19071.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1904-1909. Subject: Same crop as "photo #97" with slightly different coloration/tone.

#94 Alamo Plaza and environs

Media ID 106

AlamoplzaFolder-lightmanip1878-1882.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1878-1882. Subject: Very poor crop, showing Alamo Plaza with horse drawn streetcar (1878) at turnbuckle and Alamo Market (1857-1882) present. View is NNE across plaza from near or at the Blum Street intersection.

#95 Alamo Plaza and Chapel

Media ID 103

AlamoplzaFolder-HugoSchmeltzer1.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1882-1890. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Plaza. View is NNE across plaza from the west side near the Crockett Street intersection, showing the Hugo & Schmeltzer building (1877) and the Alamo Chapel. The exposure window is bounded by the razing of the Market House in 1882 and the paving of the plaza, as well as the placement of the park in 1890.

#96 Alamo Chapel and environs

Media ID 104

AlamoplzaFolder-hugoschmelzerbldg.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1908-1910. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Plaza. View is ENE across plaza from Alamo Street, showing the Alamo Chapel and the partial razing of the Grenet Building (1877).

#97 Houston Street View West

Media ID 102

AlamoplzaFolder-HoustonViewWest.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: Post 1909. Subject: Poor greyscale crop of view west on Houston Street.

#98 Houston Street view west.

Media ID 101

AlamoplzaFolder-HoustonStatAlamoPlazaPriorto1908.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1904-1909. Subject: Digital crop of RPPC.

#99 Alamo Chapel

Media ID 99

AlamoplzaFolder-HonoreWarehouse1.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1882-1885. Subject: South elevation of Alamo Chapel. Grenet advertisements on roof and above San Antonio Police Sub-station. View is ENE from plaza.

#100 San Antonio Club and Grand Opera House

Media ID 97

AlamoplzaFolder-GrandOperaHouse1888ca.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1887. Subject: Slightly different lighting development of similar crop.