Alamo Plaza

#101 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 91

AlamoplzaFolder-Alaplza1888.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1889. Subject: Photo crop of a creased photograph on a photo table. View is NNW of west side of Alamo Plaza, from south of Crockett Street intersection, in plaza, showing excellent detail of the San Antonio Club and Grand Opera House (1886) with the round pole sign out front advertising GRAND OPERA HOUSE and the building with no sidewalk cover (1905), the Wickes building (1886), the Crockett Block (1882), and the Maverick Bank Building (1884). Daily movement on the plaza is captured in beautiful detail. The US Post Office and Customs House(1890) can be seen under construction in the background. Notice that the curtains are down on the mule drawn streetcar. The print of this crop, has itself been damaged, however, the original photograph is of such excellent detail that the advertisement for Barnum and London's 15 United Shows (only in 1889) can be read on the construction fence around the Post Office at the far right. Note: see ID 24419.

#102 Alamo Plaza - again.

Media ID 24419

metapth460106_xl_2010-0022AR_01.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: Unknown. Exposure window of subject photograph: 1889. Subject: Another photo crop of the same excellent photograph as Id # 91 immediately above. This is an example of two manipulations of light and magnfication of the same photograph. ID 91. This crop has a band placed across the lower portion with the ascription "201. Alamo Plaza".

#103 NEfromMenger1866

Media ID 24421

NEfromMenger1866.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: Unknown. Exposure window of subject photograph: 1866. Subject: Photo crop of an early photograph of San Antonio. The view is NE and elevated, most likely taken from the Menger Hotel (1859). It is claimed (along with the date of exposure) that the large building with the tower in the center is the Honore Grenet estate.

#104 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 80

AlamoplzaFolder-alamoplzPrior1909.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1909. Subject: Photo crop of both sides of a Keystone View Company stereoscope card showing Alamo Plaza. Within the view, the Gibbs building (1909) at the NW corner of Houston and Alamo Plaza can be seen under construction. Of interest is the number of automobiles in the plaza and the traffic control device suspended from a pole at the Crockett street intersection. The Plaza is not yet paved with asphalt. However the obverse of the stereo card mentions statistics from 1910. Indicating that the Keystone Company obtained photographs at different times than the text was written.

#105 Alamo Chapel

Media ID 81

AlamoplzaFolder-Alamoprior1912.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: ca. 1890. Subject: Alamo Chapel. View is NNE showing the south elevation of the chapel with police station removed. The Hugo&Schmeltzer Building is present. The street looks as if it is being prepared for paving (1890).

#106 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 78

AlamoplzaFolder-AlamoPlzaViewNorth1908-1909.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1909. Photo crop of a photograph copied possibly from a book or from which a Keystone View Company stereoscope card. Within the view, the Gibbs building (1909) at the NW corner of Houston and Alamo Plaza can be seen under construction. The number of automobiles in the plaza and the traffic control device suspended from a pole at the Crockett street intersection can be seen somewhat more clearly.

#107 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 77

AlamoplzaFolder-AlamoplzaviewENE.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1925-26. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo plaza. View is ENE and elevated probably taken from the Wickes Building (1886). The Medical Arts Building (1926) would appear to be almost completed.

#108 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 75

AlamoplzaFolder-alamoplzaSE.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: Post 1925. Subject: Excellent photo crop of Alamo Plaza and Menger Hotel (1859). View is SSE and elevated across plaza from Grand Opera House. Crockett Street was connected through the plaza between in 1925. All automobiles viewable are fabric tops (All metal "turret" tops not produced in mass until the middle 1930s).

#109 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 74

AlamoplzaFolder-AlamoPlzaPost1912Arial.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: Post 1927-1932. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Plaza. View is East and aerial. Crockett Hotel expansion (1927) is present. Purchase and razing of structures adjacent to the Alamo Chapel and formation of the Alamo compound (Plaza-Houston-Bonham-Crockett in 1932) has not yet been accomplished.

#110 Alamo Plaza at Houston Street

Media ID 72

AlamoplzaFolder-AlamoPlzaMaverickBankBldgPre1921.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1913-1921. Subject Photo crop of a book page with printed (incorrect) ascription of the Maverick Bank building (1884), which was purchased by Swearingen-McCraw (Not McGraw) in 1894. The Sommer’s Drug Store was in the building from 1913. The Swearingen-McCraw Building was razed in 1920 and replaced by the Woolworth Building (June 1921). Of special interest is the officer, under the umbrella, controlling traffic at the intersection.

#111 Alamo Plaza US Post Office and Customs House

Media ID 73

AlamoplzaFolder-alamoplzaPO1898.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1890-1893 Subject: US Post Office and Customs House (1890). North side of Alamo Plaza. View is NNE from Alamo Street at a point about even with the southern corner of the Maverick Bank building. The tables of the "Chili Queens" recently displaced from Military Plaza can be seen to the right foreground.

#112 Alamo Plaza JFK and LBJ

Media ID 71

AlamoplzaFolder-AlamoPlzaJFKandLBJ12Sep1960.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 12 September 1960. Subject: Photo crop of crowd scene at Alamo during presidential campaign of Senator John F. Kennedy. View is east from plaza.

#113 Alamo Plaza at Blum Street

Media ID 69

AlamoplzaFolder-AlamoPlzaGallagherBldgPO.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: pre 1878 Subject: Slightly less clear photo crop of Gallagher building (1877). US Post Office on first floor. View ESE from across the Blum and Alamo intersection. No streetcar rails (service begins 1878) can be detected in the photograph. The pole light at the front door would be gas.

#114 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 67

AlamoplzaFolder-alamoplzaCQ.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1903-1910. Subject: Slightly different photo crop of a Post Card with typed original ascription “Mexican Chili Stands, San Antonio, Texas.” Subject card rendering depicts US Post office (completed August 1890) North side of Alamo Plaza. Hugo & Schmeltzer building (1877) is present to the east. Plaza fountain (installed in 1903 and removed in 1910) is shown surrounded by tables. Streetcar tracks at left. View is NNE from Alamo Street. Additional cut block in top left corner carries "www.thealamocity.com".

#115 Alamo Chapel and environs.

Media ID 63

AlamoplzaFolder-Alamoplza1920.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1918. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Plaza. View is east showing Alamo Chapel in background with decorated Christmas Tree on plaza located on the southern end of the traffic island. There is a US flag in evidence. It is probable that this is Christmas 1918. World War I having ended on 11/11/1918.

#116 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 68

AlamoplzaFolder-alamoplzadrt.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1903-1910. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Plaza. View is south across the plaza, taken (almost certainly) from the Post Office tower. Fountain (1903-1910) is present in center foreground. Bismark Café (1908 –1918) is present. Stamped ascription “PROPERTY OF THE DRT LIBRARY” on bottom. Photo embossed LEWISON’S STUDIO SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS at left corner.

#117 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 66

AlamoplzaFolder-AlamoPlza1960.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: Post 1950. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Plaza showing progression of the "Alamo Compound" both to the east and south of the chapel. View is SSE. The Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT) library (1950) is present.

#118 Alamo Plaza west side

Media ID 64

AlamoplzaFolder-alamoplza1922.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: the week of 8 January 1922. Subject: A typed and incomplete ascription assigning a date of 8 January 1922. The view is north from the 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), then 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 Courthouse (1890). The exposure date during the week of 8 January 1922 is accurate. The advertisement on the front of the Grand Opera House is for a play. The same advertisement informs that "Riding With Death" staring Buck Jones (1921) will be shown. The street ad can partially be seen under the sidewalk cover.

#119 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 61

AlamoplzaFolder-alamoplza1910.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1896-1908. Subject: Poor photo crop of a book page of a photograph of Alamo Plaza. View is north and elevated of the northern portion of the plaza taken from the Gallagher Building (1877). While the exposure of the photograph is prior to 1909 (the Gibbs Building is not present) there are two traffic signal devices, each one hung from a post, sunk into the sidewalk, mid-way along each side of the park, controlling each Crockett Street intersection, which would indicate automobile traffic.

#120 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 85

AlamoplzaFolder-AlamoStpost1883.jpg

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

#121 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 65

AlamoplzaFolder-alamoplza1937.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1935-1936. Subject: An unusual view of the plaza showing the east elevation (rear) of Alamo Chapel with the ruins of what at one point had been the Soldiers and Sailors Community House of the War Camp Committee during the 1st World War. The new US Post Office and Court House is under construction and will be completed in 1936 and opened in 1937.

#122 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 60

AlamoplzaFolder-alamoplza1905.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 7 April 1905. Subject: Photo crop showing President Theodore Roosevelt (standing in the carriage) at the Alamo during a “Rough Rider” reunion. View is east and elevated taken from the Crockett Block (1882).

#123 AlamoPlaza

Media ID 59

AlamoplzaFolder-alamoplza1900s.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1921-1933. Poor quality photo crop of an Alamo Plaza Christmas crowd scene at the annual Rotary Christmas Tree event. View is WNW from the Alamo Chapel. The Woolworth Building (opened in June of 1921) is present, so are street cars (last run April 1933).

#124 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 57

AlamoplzaFolder-alamoplza1895.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1895. Photo crop of an unknown book page. Subject: Alamo Plaza. View is north from the Gallagher Building (1877) showing primarily the center and west side of the plaza. Book page (5) carries ascription “Alamo Plaza. 1895”.

#125 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 58

AlamoplzaFolder-alamoplza1898.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1890-1893. Subject: Very poor photo crop of print exhibited and dated by MY SANANTONIO “from their files” which did not include the caption. The typed ascription; “NO PARKING OF AUTOMOBILES ALLOWED HERE” may be in reference to a nearby sign, not in the crop, that read “CARS STOP HERE” which has mistakenly been understood to mean automobiles, however the sign commonly indicated a streetcar stop and often gave reference to which lines and/or cars could be boarded at that location. R.A. Arthur building (1893) not present.

#126 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 54

AlamoplzaFolder-alamoplza1860s.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1860s. Photo crop of Alamo Chapel and convento with typed ascription “The Alamo in the 1860s (Institute of Texas Cultures).”

#127 AlamoPlaza

Media ID 56

AlamoplzaFolder-Alamoplza1878to1884.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1878-1882. Photo crop of a print pinned to a peg board. Subject: Alamo Plaza. View is NNE and elevated across plaza. Only the Dreiss Building (1877) would have provided the elevation necessary for this photograph. The Alamo Plaza Police Station (the two doors) in the south side of the Alamo Chapel, are present. A Resolution to remove the market house passed in February 1882.

#128 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 50

AlamoplzaFolder-alamoplz1890.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1890. Subject: Photo crop of a picture card of Alamo Plaza with hand printed ascription “ALAMO PLAZA 1890.” The view is ESE and elevated across the plaza showing Plaza Park under construction. Almost certainly taken from one of the balconies of the Maverick Bank Building (1884). Menger Hotel (1859) has "sidewalk shops" along its front entrance. Streetcar operation remains mule drawn.

#129 Alamo Chapel and environs.

Media ID 52

AlamoplzaFolder-alamoplza22.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: Photo crop of a print of Alamo Plaza. Probably (Dec) 1919. View is east from sidewalk in front of the Crockett Block, showing Christmas Tree on the south end of North Plaza Park. Cannot be earlier as the wartime "Community House" sign (1917-1918) and bracing, south of the Alamo Chapel is not in evidence. Print carries an ascription “PROPERTY OF THE DRT LIBRARY”

#130 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 51

AlamoplzaFolder-alamoplz1890s.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1903-1910. Subject: Photo crop of north side of Alamo Plaza. View is north. Taken from a point in the plaza. The “Chili Queen” benches are arranged around what appears to be the plaza fountain (1903-1910) just west of the Hugo & Schmeltzer Building (1877). The Maverick Bank Building (1884) at left with US Post Office and Customs House (1890) in center background. The block paving of 1890 is visible.

#131 Alamo Plaza Park

Media ID 48

AlamoplzaFolder-alamoplz3.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1890. View is ESE across Alamo Plaza showing Plaza Park either under construction or recently completed.

#132 AlamoPlaza

Media ID 44

AlamoplzaFolder-AlamoPlazaPostOfficeAfter1890.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: Post 1905. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Plaza taken from Crockett Block (1882). The view is NNE towards the US Post Office and Courthouse (1890) and Houston Street intersection. The 1905 addition to the Arthur Hotel (1893), north of the Post Office along Avenue D is present.

#133 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 46

AlamoplzaFolder-AlamoPlazCarStopPrior1912.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1890-1910. Street car stop. “CARS STOP HERE.” A common sign which has been misunderstood in later years to mean automobiles, however the sign indicated a streetcar stop and often gave reference to which lines and/or cars could be boarded at that location. The Hugo & Schmeltzer Building (1877) is present. The view is east from in front of the Crockett Block (1884). The block paving of the plaza (1890) is present. The Steves Auto Station Building built next to (south)of the Alamo Chapel in 1908 is not.

#134 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 45

AlamoplzaFolder-AlamoPlazaViewNorth.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1908. Subject: Slightly different photo crop of a book page of Alamo Plaza (See "photo #30") View is north from an elevated position (most likely the Gallagher building 1877). The police sub-station in the Alamo Chapel has been removed. Hugo & Schmeltzer building (1877) is present. The Gibbs building (1909) is under construction. Several of the parked vehicles would appear to be automobiles.

#135 Alamo Plaza Map

Media ID 40

AlamoplzaFolder-AlamoPlazaMap.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: N/A Subject: Photo crop of an outline map of the Alamo Compound imposed over the modern (2018) features of the area.

#136 Alamo Plaza Post Card

Media ID 42

AlamoplzaFolder-AlamoPlazaPC.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1907. Photo crop of a hand colored postal/souvenir card of Alamo Plaza. Handwritten ascription “August 13 – 07” at top. With “Hot as blazes” at bottom with a name.

#137 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 41

AlamoplzaFolder-AlamoPlazaMaverickBld.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.

#138 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 36

AlamoplzaFolder-AlamoPlazaAfter1925.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: Post 1935-1936. Photo crop of Alamo Plaza. View is WNW and elevated almost certainly from the Menger Hotel. The center grass strip landscape in front of the Alamo Chapel (1935) is present as well as the arcade from the south wall of the chapel to Crockett Street. The construction has yet to begin on the new Post Office(1936).

#139 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 38

AlamoplzaFolder-alamoplazadateunk.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1914-1923. Subject: Photo crop of flawed print of north side of Alamo Plaza. The Clifton George dealership is present at 720 E. Houston (1914). The Medical Arts Building (begun 1923) is not present. View is ENE and elevated almost certainly taken from the Grand Opera House (1886).

#140 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 39

AlamoplzaFolder-alamo-plaza-historic-aerial-photos-1024x5071.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: N/A Subject: Interesting photo diorama/montage of the development of San Antonio and The Alamo Mission.

#141 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 34

AlamoplzaFolder-AlamoPlaza1919ca.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1917-1919. Subject: Photo crop of a Goldbeck panoramic photograph of the Alamo chapel and convento “Long Barracks”. View is ESE from a lower balcony of the Swearingen-McCraw (Maverick Bank) Building (1884). The Hugo & Schmeltzer building has been razed. The Clifton George Ford Co. exists in the 700 block of East Houston from 1910 to 1925. The “Food -Don’t Waste It” sign is a World War 1 (for the U.S. 1917-1918) United States Food Administration message created by Frederic G. Cooper.

#142 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 33

AlamoplzaFolder-AlamoPlaza1918.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: ca. 1916. Subject: Photo crop of north side of Alamo Plaza. View is NNE probably taken from the Crockett Block (1882) showing the North Plaza Park, a portion of the convento walls, the US Post Office and Courthouse and a long view NNE along Avenue E.

#143 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 35

AlamoplzaFolder-AlamoPlaza1927WestView.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1927-1929. Subject: Photo crop of west side of Alamo Plaza. View is aerial and WSW. From lower right corner moving south: The Palace Theater (1923), The Crockett Block (1882), The Wickes Building (1886), The San Antonio Club and Grand Opera House (1886), and on the south side of Crockett Street, the Reuter Building (1892). In the distance to the SW is The Plaza Hotel (1927) but not yet the Smith-Young Tower (1929).

#144 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 31

AlamoplzaFolder-AlamoPlaza1890sUnk.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: ca. 1902-1907. Subject: Photo crop of a marred print of west side of Alamo Plaza. View is WNW from the Blum Street intersection showing the 200 block of the West Side of the plaza and the south end of plaza park. View is WNW from a point along Blum street, showing the Reuter Building (1891) and several businesses to the south, as well as hacks waiting fares and a number of bicycles along the sidewalk, which probably belong to messengers or deliverymen. The earliest that Frank Bros Branch could occupy 209 Alamo Plaza is 1902. Pfeuffer-Conring Co. opened its doors 24 June 1901. It is gone by 1907.

#145 Alamo Chapel

Media ID 28

AlamoplzaFolder-alamopic2.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: Post 1920. Subject: Photo crop of five men standing on the ledge above the door of the Alamo Chapel. No explanation within the photo as to who or why, however, each man is wearing convention ribbons.

#146 Alamo Chapel and Convento.

Media ID 27

AlamoplzaFolder-alamopic1.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1865-1877. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Chapel and convento with wagons and a US Flag at the top of the Chapel. View is ENE across the plaza.

#147 Alamo Chapel and Convento.

Media ID 26

AlamoplzaFolder-alamopic.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1848-1877. Subject: Photo crop of a type of boardered or "keyhole" photograph that has been colored and manipulated. The plaza grounds look clean of rubble, and the Grenet building (1877) is not present.

#148 Alamo Chapel

Media ID 24

AlamoplzaFolder-Alamolightsunk.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: Pre-1912. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Chapel lit with electric lights. The Hugo & Schmeltzer Building (1877) can just be seen to the north (left). It was removed 1912-1913.

#149 Alamo Chapel

Media ID 22

AlamoplzaFolder-alamodateunkk.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: ca. 1877. Subject: excellent quality photo crop of Alamo Chapel. The cart station in front of chapel used for accounting for carts and loads can be seen, as well as the wheel and scrape marks along the ground as they made their turn entering or leaving the area between the large stones. Prior to Grenet Building.

#150 Alamo Plaza

Media ID 20

AlamoplzaFolder-AlamoChapel1940s.jpg

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: Post 1948. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Chapel showing chapel and south arcade. View is NE from park.