Downtown in San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Commerce Street

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 22, 2018

1. Commerce Street Marker

Inscription.
Life in San Antonio in the 1700s revolved around Main and Military plazas west of the river and Mission San Antonio de Valero (the Alamo) east of the river. Residents traveled between the plazas and mission along an unpaved street that led to a low river crossing. Later known as Commerce Street, the thoroughfare was lined with small houses and stores until the late 1800s when multi-story limestone and brick structures transformed downtown. To accommodate increased cross-town traffic, a narrow bridge was replaced by a wider iron span in 1890, and in 1914 the present concrete bridge was constructed. It was not until the early 1900s that city leaders began to clear the overgrown river to create a linear park. Architect Robert H.H. Hugman’s plans to further enhance the river with walkways and landscaping were implemented from 1939 to 1941. The River Walk attracted a few businesses, but it was not until HemisFair ’68 that the beautified walkway began to flourish. Today the River Walk is the city’s second most popular attraction.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Parks & Recreational Areas • Roads & Vehicles • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 29° 25.408′ N, 98° 29.271′

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W. Marker is in San Antonio, Texas, in Bexar County. It is in Downtown. Marker can be reached from Losoya Street south of East Commerce Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is on the San Antonio River Walk, just south of the Commerce Street Bridge, on the east side of the river. Marker can be accessed from the River Walk staircase on Losoya Street, near the "Torch of Friendship" plaza. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 333 Losoya Street, San Antonio TX 78205, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Commerce Street Bridge (a few steps from this marker); Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Beyer (within shouting distance of this marker); 141st Infantry Regiment (within shouting distance of this marker); Robert H.H. Hugman (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Robert H.H. Hugman (within shouting distance of this marker); The Torch of Friendship (within shouting distance of this marker); Father of the River Walk (within shouting distance of this marker); The First Church's ChickenⓇ (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Antonio.

Also see . . . Commerce Street at the San Antonio River. Located at the historic main ford between San Fernando De Bexar (the city) and San Antonio De Valero (The Alamo), the river crossing has long been

Marker detail: Commerce Street, 1850s image. Click for full size.

Courtesy: Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library at the Alamo

2. Marker detail: Commerce Street, 1850s

Commerce Street is seen here as it appeared in the 1850s. The small wooden bridge, one of several periodically replaced after being damaged by floods, leads west across the river toward the plazas in the distance.

a focal point of history for the city of San Antonio. In 1836, Albert Martin, an emissary from the Alamo met with one of Santa Anna's aides during a critical moment of the Texas War for Independence. In 1842, mayor John W. Smith hired R.T. Higginbotham to construct a timber bridge over the river. The present bridge replaced an 1880 iron truss bridge. The concrete bridge was constructed in 1915 as part of a major street improvement program that widened Commerce Street between the Main Plaza and Alamo Street. (Submitted on June 23, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Marker detail: Commerce Street Bridge, 1907 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Courtesy: Institute of Texan Cultures, San Antonio

3. Marker detail: Commerce Street Bridge, 1907

The iron truss bridge seen in this 1907 view of Commerce Street and the river was erected in 1890. Robert H.H. Hugman’s office was on the river level of the turreted Clifford Building during the 1940s.

Marker detail: Commerce Street Bridge, 1914 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Courtesy: Institute of Texan Cultures, San Antonio

4. Marker detail: Commerce Street Bridge, 1914

Early efforts to beautify the river and protect adjacent buildings from flooding included the retaining walls and landscaped lawns seen in this 1914 image taken shortly after the new Commerce Street Bridge was completed. The bridge was built by Charles M. Schoenfeld.

Commerce Street Marker (<i>wide view; overlooking the San Antonio River</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 22, 2018

5. Commerce Street Marker (wide view; overlooking the San Antonio River)

Commerce Street Bridge today (<i>view looking south, from north side of bridge</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 22, 2018

6. Commerce Street Bridge today (view looking south, from north side of bridge)

Access to marker (San Antonio River Walk) from Commerce Street Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 21, 2018

7. Access to marker (San Antonio River Walk) from Commerce Street Bridge

View of Market Steet Bridge (<i>looking south past Commerce Street marker</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 20, 2018

8. View of Market Steet Bridge (looking south past Commerce Street marker)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 23, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 648 times since then and 130 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 23, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 7, 8. submitted on July 1, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.