Main/Military Plaza in San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Spanish Governor's Palace

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 21, 2018

1. Spanish Governor's Palace - National Historic Landmark Plaque

Inscription. Has been designated a
Registered National
Historic Landmark

Under the provisions of the
Historic Sites Act of August 21, 1935
This site possesses exceptional value
in commemorating or illustrating
the history of The United States

U.S. Department of the Interior
National Park Service
1970

Erected 1970 by U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Forts and Castles. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks series list.

Location. 29° 25.491′ N, 98° 29.744′ W. Marker is in San Antonio, Texas, in Bexar County. It is in Main/Military Plaza. It is on Plaza De Armas south of West Commerce Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is mounted at eye-level, on the subject building, just left of the main entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 105 Plaza De Armas, San Antonio TX 78205, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South Texas.

It is also in the American

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South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Moses Austin (within shouting distance of this marker); Growth of a City (within shouting distance of this marker); The Buried Past is Never Lost (within shouting distance of this marker); Plaza de Armas: Center of Commerce and Government (within shouting distance of this marker); Commerce Street (within shouting distance of this marker); The Mexican Revolution (within shouting distance of this marker); Barbed Wire (within shouting distance of this marker); Flood of the Century (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Antonio.

Regarding Spanish Governor's Palace.
The Spanish Governor’s Palace was constructed in the early 18th century and restored in the 1930s. This National Historic Landmark represents the last visual remnants

The Spanish Governor's Palace Marker on the back door of the building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, January 8, 2023

2. The Spanish Governor's Palace Marker on the back door of the building

of the Presidio San Antonio de Béjar. The Presidio was established as the result of a rivalry between Spain and France in the early 1700s for dominance of the territory that is now a part of the southwestern United States. To protect his claim against French encroachment, King Philip V of Spain ordered the governor of Coahuila and Texas, Don Martín de Alarcón, to build a mission and presidio at the headwaters of the San Antonio River and San Pedro Creek. On May 5, 1718, Alarcón established the Presidio San Antonio de Béjar to protect the newly established Mission San Antonio de Valero (later known as the Alamo).

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Presidio San Antonio de Béjar

Also see . . .
1. Spanish Governor's Palace. Wikipedia entry:
Links to National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form (Submitted on May 22, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Spanish Governor's Palace / The Comandancia. Texas State Historical Association entry:
The Comandancia has stood on the west side of Plaza de Armas in the center of San Antonio, since the

Spanish Governor's Palace Marker (<i>wide view; marker visible left of entrance</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 21, 2018

3. Spanish Governor's Palace Marker (wide view; marker visible left of entrance)

1730s. At times the structure has been called the “Casa del Capitan,” indicating it was the residence of the captain of the San Antonio de Béxar Presidio, and in its more recent history, the “Spanish Governor’s Palace.” During the Comandancia’s first 200 years, seven generations of two prominent Tejano families owned the house. It is the only example of Spanish Colonial residential architecture remaining in Texas. (Submitted on June 3, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Spanish Governor's Palace - San Antonio, Texas. Explore Southern History entry:
(This link presents interior and exterior photos of the Spanish Governor's Palace.)
Plans for the structure are known to have originated as early as 1722, when the Marquis de San Miguel de Aguayo proposed the construction of the palace in a letter to the King of Spain. The presidio or fort of San Antonio de Bejar was moved to the present site of the city that same year to protect the nearby mission of San Antonio de Valero (the Alamo). (Submitted on June 3, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

The view of the Spanish Governor's Palace Marker on the back door next to the San Pedro creek image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, January 8, 2023

4. The view of the Spanish Governor's Palace Marker on the back door next to the San Pedro creek

Spanish Governor's Palace image. Click for more information.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 21, 2018

5. Spanish Governor's Palace

Museum website homepage
Click for more information.

Spanish Governor's Palace Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 21, 2018

6. Spanish Governor's Palace Sign

This National Historic Landmark, traditionally known as the Spanish Governor’s Palace, tells the story of San Antonio’s Spanish Colonial history and culture through the story of the Presidio San Antonio de Bejar and its preservation.

Constructed at this location in the early 18th century, this building was the original comandancia (residence and office) for the captain of the presidio. The building was restored in the 1930s and is currently operated by the City of San Antonio, Department for Culture and & Creative Development.

Spanish Governor's Palace Restoration Marker (<i>related marker mounted right of entrance</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 21, 2018

7. Spanish Governor's Palace Restoration Marker (related marker mounted right of entrance)

1749 * Restoration of the *1929
Old Spanish Governors’
Palace
C.M. Chambers, Mayor
City Commissioners
Jacob Rubiola * Phil Wright
Frank H. Bushick * Paul E. Steffler
Harvey P. Smith, A.I.A. Architect
Guy C. Holder, Contractor

Spanish Governor's Palace (<i>related marker mounted right of entrance</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 21, 2018

8. Spanish Governor's Palace (related marker mounted right of entrance)

The Spanish Governor’s
Palace
Where traditions of glamorous days,
romance and tragedy still linger.
Bought by a bond issue of the
City of San Antonio, 1928.
Restored, 1930.
Tablet erected by De Zavala Chapter
Texas Historical and Landmarks Association
1938

Spanish Governor's Palace Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Adam Margolis, April 7, 2024

9. Spanish Governor's Palace Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 17, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 2, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 788 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 2, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2. submitted on January 21, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. 3. submitted on June 3, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 4. submitted on January 21, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on June 3, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 9. submitted on July 14, 2024, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.