Alamo Plaza

#51 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.

#52 Silent motion picture set depicting Alamo Chapel.

Media ID 200

AlamoplzaFolder-Set_for_1915_The_Martyrs_of_the_Alamo_or_The_Birth_of_Texas.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 21 Nov 1915 (theatrical release date) Subject: Scene from silent epic “Martyrs of the Alamo or The Birth of Texas.” Location filming at Hot Wells Resort, San Antonio.

#53 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.

#54 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 has been cropped to eliminate the ascription “PROPERTY OF THE DRT LIBRARY” at the bottom.

#55 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.

#56 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.

#57 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.

#58 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.

#59 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.

#60 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.

#61 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.

#62 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.

#63 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 including a tour vehicle are evidence.

#64 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.

#65 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.

#66 Dreiss Building.

Media ID 197

AlamoplzaFolder-SAsouthofAlamoPlaza.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: Post 1877. Subject: photo crop of the Dreiss Building with stonework ascription: Alamo Drug Store 1877 Adolph Dreiss. View is west from across Alamo street.

#67 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 "ID 129."

#68 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.

#69 Alamo Chapel.

Media ID 198

AlamoplzaFolder-SAtourbusses1920s.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1920s. Subject: Alamo Chapel with tour buses at door, vehicle parking to left, and street lamp on corner. View is east from Alamo Street.

#70 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.

#71 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).

#72 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.

#73 Alamo Saloon

Media ID 126

AlamoplzaFolder-SA1890s.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1897-1908 Subject: Photo crop of an unknown group. The building/site has been a boarding house and/or saloon since 1885, however, the address of 314 Alamo Plaza begins in 1896. It changes to 312 Alamo Plaza in 1903-1907, then returns to 314 when the building is razed in 1908. View is ENE from the plaza. Apparently when the establshment is to be spelled out in electric light bulbs, it is no longer a saloon, it is just a bar.

#74 US Post Office and Customs House

Media ID 121

AlamoplzaFolder-PostOfficeAlamoPlaza.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1893-1905. 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.

#75 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).

#76 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 being done in front of United States Post Office and Customs House (1890). View is ENE across East Houston Street, almost certainly taken from the SW corner of East Houston and Alamo Plaza. Note man in coat and tie turning hydrant on corner. View NNE and street level from Houston St. and Alamo Plaza. The exposure window is framed by the presence of the post office buiilding and the absence of the R.A. Arthur Building (1893) at the location where "Plumber" is in the photograph.

#77 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.”

#78 Alamo Plaza Park RPPC

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.

#79 Alamo Plaza Park RPPC

Media ID 114

AlamoplzaFolder-pcalamoplz.jpg

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".

#80 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 framed by the presence of the Arthur Hotel (1893) and its fourth floor addition in 1905.

#81 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).

#82 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.

#83 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 1904. The US Post Office and Customs House, completed in 1890 is present. The Moore Building (1904) is not present. The second was taken after 1908 as the Gibbs Building (1908) 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).

#84 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.

#85 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.

#86 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: 1904-1908. 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.

#87 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.

#88 Alamo Chapel

Media ID 99

AlamoplzaFolder-HonoreWarehouse1.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1882-1896. Subject: South elevation of Alamo Chapel. Grenet advertisements on roof and over door to to the San Antonio Police "Alamo Plaza Station". View is ENE from plaza. The exposure window is framed by the residency of the San Antonio Police Department in the "Alamo Plaza Police Station" within/attached to the Chapel Building.

#89 Alamo Chapel

Media ID 94

AlamoplzaFolder-DRThiredofficer.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1921-1942. Subject: San Antonio Public Service Company operated buses from 1921 to 1942. Photo crop of Alamo chapel with bus, two women and what may or may not be an SAPD officer. View is east from the sidewalk.

#90 Houston Street view west.

Media ID 100

AlamoplzaFolder-HoustonAtAlamoPlaza.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1904-1908. Subject: Color enhanced post card of Eas Houston Street at Alamo Plaza. The view is west. Taken from a point in the plaza. The exposure window is the presence of the Moore Building (1904) on East Houston with its distinctive roof pagodas, which will be removed with the 6th floor addition completed in 1908.

#91 Gallagher Building

Media ID 95

AlamoplzaFolder-Gallagher1.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1877. Subject: photo crop of Gallagher building (1877). US Post Office on first floor. View is ESE. Taken from across the Blum and Alamo Street intersection. No streetcar rails (service begins 1878) can be detected in the photograph. the 1877 Sanborn map indicates no buildings south of the post office on the east side of Alamo. Therefore the exposure of the subject photograph is dated from building completion.

#92 San Antonio Club and Grand Opera House

Media ID 96

AlamoplzaFolder-grandopera1886.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1891-1908. Subject: Photo montage consisting of a photo crop of the San Antonio Club and Grand Opera House at a point between 1891-1908 and a photo crop of an advertisement from a newspaper concerning its first opening night in 1886.

#93 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 90

AlamoplzaFolder-Alamunkdate.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1871-1877. Subject: Alamo Chapel and plaza. City station for accounting of carts loaded with rubble stone is present in front of chapel. City began this program in earnest after its purchase of the Galera in1871. The plaza is becoming one as the dividing stonework between the Plaza de Valero and Alamo Plaza is removed. The Convento (north of chapel) has not yet been overbuilt by wooden warehouse of Honore Grenet which occurs in 1877. View is NNE across plaza.

#94 Alamo Plaza Park

Media ID 93

AlamoplzaFolder-alplza1898.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 4 July 1898. Subject: Photo crop of a photo crop pinned to a grid board. Alamo Plaza. Double track. Block pavement. Hugo and Schmeltzer building. Landscaping in center of plaza. No apparent traffic movement rules. Handwritten ascription “July 4, 1898.”

#95 Alamo Chapel

Media ID 92

AlamoplzaFolder-AlmoChapel1926FranklinDealer.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 24 Jan 1926. Subject: Less clear photo crop of Birdsong family with Franklin vehicle at the Alamo Chapel.

#96 Alamo Plaza at Houston Street.

Media ID 98

AlamoplzaFolder-hist-car-961.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: Post 1921. Subject: Photo crop of Woolworth building (1921). View is WSW taken from sidewalk in front of Post Office, north side of Houston Street.

#97 West side of AlamoPlaza

Media ID 89

AlamoplzaFolder-AlamoViewNorth.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: the week of 8 January 1922. Subject: Photo crop of a book page depicting the West side of Alamo Plaza with a typed and incomplete ascription assigning a date of 8 January 1922. The first silent film version of the play “Baby Mine” was released in 1917 and is playing for one week beginning Sunday 8 January 1922 along with “Riding With Death” starring Buck Jones as can be partially seen advertised under the street cover. The view is north from Crockett Street intersection. Buildings on West side are the San Antonio Club and Grand Opera House (1886) on the NW corner, then the Wickes Building (1886), then the Crockett Block (1882), the Woolworth Building (1921) at the SW corner of Houston and Alamo Plaza. The tallest building in the view is the Gibbs building (1909) on the NW corner of Houston and Alamo Plaza, west and across Alamo Street from the US Post Office and Customs House (1890).

#98 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 87

AlamoplzaFolder-alamosub1888.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1895. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo plaza. View is NNE across plaza from near the Blum street intersection showing the south elevation of the chapel with the entrance to the Police Station. The Hugo & Schmeltzer building can just be seen on the upper left, beyond the chapel. Snowfall on 14 February (Valentines Day) 1895 was 4.2 inches.

#99 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 86

AlamoplzaFolder-AlamoStreet1883post.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1883-1888. Subject: Photo crop of west side of Alamo Plaza. View is SSE from Blum Street intersection. Alamo Drug Store/Dreiss building (1877) is in foreground with the Joske brothers (the company became Joske Brothers in 1883), doing business at that location (will move across street in 1888 and leave building vacant). The towered Dullnig Building (1883) can be seen at the corner of Alamo and Commerce (far left of photograph).

#100 Alamo Plaza clearer photograph.

Media ID 84

AlamoplzaFolder-AlamoStafter1883.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1883-1888. Subject: Photo crop, slightly clearer than previous photograph.