San Antonio

San Antonio, Texas, has a rich, but complex history. Part of this history is the number of nations that held sovereignty over the area, beginning with Spain and ending with the United States. Stell's mural includes symbols-buildings and flags-associated with various time periods, cultures, and nations. One of the most complicated time periods in San Antonio's history is associated with the confederate flag shown in the mural between the Bexar County Courthouse and San Fernando Cathedral. Texas seceded from the United States on March 2, 1861, after voters elected to join the confederacy. San Antonio, however, was known as "the abolitionist hole" due to the overwhelming number of citizens who voted to oppose secession and slavery. The states' overwhelming number of pro-secession voters however ensured Texas would become the 7th state to join the confederacy. It remained a part of the confederacy until the end of the civil war and the arrival of United States armed forces in Galveston in June 1865. , 2nd Plaque San Antonio , Designed by , Thomas M. Stell, Jr. 1898-1981 , Completed by , Charles Francis Winans, Donated by Tesoro Petroleum Corporation to the people of San Antonio in recognition that we all are members of one community, and that we all have a common goal ... The goal of improving the economic and social conditions of our city and of making it a more desirable place in which to live. , Robert V. West. Jr. , Tesoro Petroleum Corporation , December 18, 1981.