San Antonio is probably one of the most historic cities in the state of Texas. One of the oldest buildings is the Spanish Governor's Palace.
The Spanish Governor's Palace is the last vestige of the 18th century Presidio San Antonio de Bexar, which was built to protect the Spanish missions in the area, including San Antonio de Valero (aka The Alamo).
This keystone above the door is the coat of arms of the Spanish King Ferdinand VI. It looks pretty good considering it was put there in the 1730's and it's been in the elements ever since.
Construction began in 1722 as one room where the captain of the Presidio San Antonio de Bexar would live and work. The room contained a bed, a desk and some furniture to store belongings.
Looking out the window of the room to the Plaza de Armas (parade ground where the other soldiers would be camped out). Note how thick the walls were. The building was made of adobe. The bricks were then assembled using mud mortar. Once complete the entire building was then coated in whitewash.
In 1740, the captain of the guard, added on three additional rooms facing the plaza. One small room called a
zaguan, which was more like a hallway, was added next to the original room. This room was a living/dining area and would have been furnished for reading, eating, sewing, etc. There was no kitchen so all food would have been cooked outside.
Another smaller room was added as an office (see the doorway at the end of the photo). Originally, there was no doorway between this room and the office so the captain would have to go outside to get to "work". The doorway was added in the 1930's as part of the reconstruction.
This was the captain's new office where he conducted his business. To enhance his income, he probably imported goods to sell to the soldiers. He would have stored those goods here. In the 1860's, the building was leased to merchants. This room and the previous room were, at various times, clothing stores, a tinsmith shop or rented rooms.
The vargueno, or drop front cabinet style desk, was very common in the Spanish Empire. It has several drawers in which to store documents or other items. It can then be secured by closing the lid and locking it.
In 1763, the next captain took over and two new rooms were added to the building. This room was originally combined with the previous room and was part of a store room for merchandise being sold. In 1930, when the restoration was done, the room was separated into these two rooms and this room was designated as a bedroom.
This second bedroom was added as part of the 1930's reconstruction. It was designated as a child's bedroom, supporting the idea that upper class life in Spanish times had been more luxurious and sophisticated.
Looking out to the courtyard from the second bedroom window. There was obviously no air conditioning (then or now) but with all the windows like these open, it created a nice breeze. Don't get me wrong, it was still pretty hot.
This room was added in the late 1800's by commercial tenants. Used for both commercial and residential activities. It was converted to a parlor in the 1930's.
Architect Harvey Smith, who did the 1930's renovation, felt that upper class Spanish families would have had a courtyard. So, as part of the 1930's reconstruction, he added one. This courtyard has a fountain in the middle. Aside from the construction going on in the city, it's very peaceful back there.
Also in the courtyard is a well. I feel pretty confident these people weren't going to the river everyday for water.
The back of the building. The view from the courtyard.
More of the courtyard. The garden and the back wall.
Back inside, this staircase and loft were designed for storage and were added in the 1930 reconstruction. Things like vegetables, dried meats or containers of sugar or salt might have been stored here.
The kitchen was also added on in the 1930 reconstruction. Attached kitchens were not very common in the 18th century probably due to fire hazards. The stove you see here is called a
cocina de carbon. There are metal baskets of charcoal under each hole on the top. The charcoal provides the heat for the pots that are on top.
This dining room was added in the 1700's to the rooms that faced the plaza by the Menchaca family (one of the presidio captains). In the 1800's, all serious cooking would mostly like have taken place outside. However, light cooking would have been done in the fireplace, which was the only one in the house until 1930. Between 1860 and 1920, this room was used for commercial businesses such as pawn shops, etc.
The dining room would also have had cabinets or chests such as this one to store utensils and other food stuffs.
The door to the left of the chest takes us back to the original room of the house, the bedroom/office of the captain. It amazes me that this structure was built in the 1700's. I get that a major reconstruction was done in the 1930's but still, what an amazing piece of history! What I wouldn't give to go back in time to see how it really was...
If you're in San Antonio and you have the time, you should stop by. It's $5 a person to get in but very well worth it.
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