HemisFair Park, San Antonio, Texas: An Archival Study for the Convention Center Expansion

Archaeological Monitoring for San Antonio Water Systems: Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center Expansion

“…1 the city of San Antonio (Johnson and Cox 1995;Johnson et al 1997). These reports summarize previous archaeological work in downtown San Antonio, including numerous investigations of late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century domiciles and neighborhoods.…”

“…Bousman et al (1995) and Fox et al (1997) provide in-depth information on the history of the neighborhoods just to the east of the project area. Johnson and Cox (1995), Johnson et al (1997), and Cox and Fox (1983) focus on the immediate area. The interested reader is referred to these reports for detailed accounts of the multifaceted history of downtown San Antonio.…”

“…From the establishment of the Mission San Antonio de Valero until the mid-nineteenth century, the New City Blocks (NCB) comprising the project area were primarily agriCUltural lands with no structures or improvements (Johnson et al 1997). The southern portion of the sewer and water lines installed during this project run through portions of NCB 689, 693, and 696 (Figure 4), the property purchased and subdivided by developer Joseph Beck in 1848 (see Johnson et al 1997). The northern portion of the new sewer line crosses portions of NCBs 686, 687, 873, and 874, land also originally acquired by the Baron de Bastrop in 1810 ( Figure 4).…”

“…The land containing NCBs 687 and 874 was sold by the Bastrop heirs to Philip Dimmitt (Johnson et al 1997…”

“…The following year, Texas became a separate department with San Antonio de Bexar as the capital. Twelve years later, San Antonio was the site of the famous Battle of the Alamo which paved the way for the 1836 Texan defeat of the Mexican army and the beginning of the Republic of Texas (seeJohnson et al 1997 for more detail).Political unrest and military incursions by Mexican troops did not completely cease until Texas was annexed by the United States in 1844. The ensuing influx of people from the southern United States and Europe prompted land speculators to purchase large tracts of land for division into smaller lots for development.…”