Browse Exhibits (61 total)
Cadena, Maximo Complex
The Cadena family was involved in the cargo freighting business in the mid to late 1800’s at a time when transporting goods by carts and wagons was the primary mode of moving goods from one location to another.
The two-story, vernacular limestone block house of Maxcimo (AKA Maximo) Cadena is located on a hilltop on the northwest side of San Antonio. The beautiful view of the Hill Country is now partially obscured by the many newly constructed homes surrounding the house.
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Classen, J.H. - Ranch
Johann Hubert Classen was born on 18 September 1832 in Brachelen, Germany to Johann Peter Classen and Maria Helena Beckers Classen. He married Maria Helena Schuwirth (1831-1873) on 17 October 1856 in Brachelen and very soon they left Brachelen to immigrate to the U.S. Traveling on the ship IRIS with other family members, Johann and Helena had their first child, Heinrich “Henry,” who born on 31 Oct. 1856 while in transit. The new family arrived at the Port of Galveston on 15 November 1857.
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Crenwelge / Braun Complex
German immigrant Theodore Crenwelge built the stone farmhouse for his bride, Katherine (Katie Rumpel) in 1895. Originally the farm consisted of about 156 acres.
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Culebra Road Stage Stop - Demolished 2005
Culebra Road Stage Coach Stop and Outbuilding
Built about 1850-1865 on San Antonio-Castroville Road
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Davenport, William and Nancy
William Davenport was born in 1820 Saltville Township, Virginia. His family later lived in Kentucky before settling in present day Kaufman County, Texas in 1843. There William met and married Mary Ware, daughter of Texas Revolutionary veteran, William Ware. William and Mary built a home south of Cibolo Creek soon after purchasing land here in 1851, part of the Vincente Micheli survey. When Mary died the following year, William buried her near their home establishing a community burial ground in 1853. William married Nancy D. Young whose father John was a veteran of the War of 1812 and was also later buried in Davenport Cemetery.
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de la Garza - Cantu House
This property was once part of the large Spanish land grant made to Simon Arocha, a Canary Island descendant, by the Spanish government in ca. 1778. The ranch appeared on the list of Sindico Reports of the Bexar Jurisdiction, taken in the Year 1810. At this time, the ranch was known as Santa Rita de las Yslitas.
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Ernst, August House
August Fredrich Ernst was the grandson of the early immigrant Ernst family who initially settled in New Braunfels, Comal County, TX. His grandparents, John Peter Ernst (born about 1803) and his grandmother, Katherine, (born about 1804) arrived in the U.S. in 1852 from Nassau, Germany. The Ernst’s initially establish residency in Comal County where they were purchased property and established a farm. After several years August and his parents along with other family members moved to Bexar County. Here they again bought property and established their home in a small community that was thriving at the time, but unfortunately no longer exists.
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Evans, Robert B. - House
Robert B. Evans was born in Liberty, TN. He came to Texas in January 1844 (?) by way of Fort Caddo. On the way he lost two mules from sudden weather changes in Texas. One mule died of heat stroke and the second mule froze to death from a “Norther.”
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Griffin Family and Other African-American Settlements in Bexar County
Enclaves of African American families were developed in the area. Although, to date, no existing homes or structures of this period have been identified as having been farms and/or ranches, it is known that over 70 cattle and/or livestock brands were registered between 1852 and 1930. This would appear to indicate that African Americans were farming as they had sufficient livestock to brand. In addition, a number of African American cemeteries have been located throughout the county. It is assumed that these cemeteries were in the proximity of the African American settlements.
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Featured Exhibit
Marnoch Homestead
The Scottish surgeon Dr. Fredrick Marnoch (1802-1870) purchased more than 1500 acres at this site in the autumn of 1858....