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La VillitaLa Villita was San Antonio's first neighborhood, located on the south bank of the San Antonio River. It was originally a settlement of primitive huts for the Spanish soldiers stationed at the Mission San Antonio Valero (the Alamo). After a flood in 1819, brick, stone and adobe houses replaced the earlier structures. In 1836, La Villita was the site of General Santa Ana's cannon line in the Battle of the Alamo and a map from early that year showed the village to be of considerable size. 
Late in the 19th century European immigrants from Germany and France moved into the area. These pioneers became San Antonio's business leaders, bankers, educators, and craftsmen. The cultural mix that occurred at this time is best illustrated by the variety of architectural styles reflected in La Villita's buildings. The architecture portrays the evolution of buildings from palisado to Victorian Houses. The first part of the 20th century saw La Villita decline. But in 1939, as ground broke on the San Antonio River Walk development, city fathers led by Mayor Maury Maverick acted to preserve this colorful part of San Antonio's history. Today La Villita is a thriving art community that stands as a monument to San Antonio's past. Be sure to include the walking tour among your things to do. This structure is believed to be one of the oldest in La Villita, predating 1835. General Perfecto de Cos reportedly signed the articles of capitulation for the Mexican Army here on December 9, 1835, after being defeated by the Texan Army. It is now often used for small wedding receptions or dinners. BOWEN / KIRCHNER HOUSE - Today it is Villita Stained Glass This house appears on an 1873 map and was built either by San Antonio postmaster John Bowen, who bought the property in 1851 or by Auguste Kirchner, who bought it from Bowen in 1871. The original house is built of caliche block. LOSANA HOUSE - Today it is Lone Star Mercantile Mariano Romano Losana was the original owner of this house. A succession of owners and businesses, including a chemical manufacturing company and restaurant, were among the tenants prior to the acquisition of the house by the City of San Antonio in 1939. FLORIAN HOUSE - Today it is River Art Group & The Sutler Constructed in 1854 at a cost of $660, the house is named for Erasmus Florian, a Polish immigrant. The original structure and rear addition reflect the dramatic change in building styles from the pre-Civil War to the late Victorian period. FAVILLE HOUSE - Today it is Monte Wade Fine Arts Franklin D. Faville constructed this house about 1855. Typical of many mid-nineteenth century homes in San Antonio, the house has a gable running parallel to the front of the house. THE DASHIELL HOUSE (CASA VILLITA) Today it is The San Antonio Conservation Society Built in 1856 on land on the San Antonio River bought in 1849. The San Antonio Conservation Society has maintained offices at "Casa Villita" since 1942. GRAY - GUILBEAU HOUSE - Today it is Fig Tree Restaurant The house is named for James Gray and French consul Francois Guibeau who bought the house from Gray in 1853. The house saw many owners and changes before becoming a restaurant in 1970. THE OTTO BOMBACH HOUSE AND STORE Today it is Little Rhein Steak House Built in 1856, the property has housed many businesses, most recently a restaurant named for "Little Rhein", the predominately German neighborhood adjacent to S. Alamo Street in the early 1900s. MCALLISTER HOUSE AND STORE - Today it is Guadalajara Grill & Mustang Grey's This land, bought by Samuel W. McAllister in 1854, was incorporated into La Villita in 1949. The store may have been built in two stages as the first story is of limestone and the second story of caliche block. THE LITTLE CHURCH - Today it is The Little Church The cornerstone was laid for the church on March 2, 1879. Several denominations have held services here. However, it is now an active non-denominational church and a favorite site for weddings. ST PHILIP'S COLLEGE - Today it is Starving Artist Art Gallery The college was begun in an adobe house just north of this building in 1898 but the present brick buildings date to the 1900s. The City of San Antonio acquired the group of buildings in 1945. KITCHEN - Today it is Casa Manos Alegres The kitchen building was constructed during the National Youth Administration restoration in1939. The small building stands on King Phillip V Walk where the legendary Mrs. Womble's Boarding House once stood. JUAREZ PLAZA Plaza Juarez was built during the National Youth Administration restoration of La Villita and was named for Mexican patriot Benito Juarez. The area had in earlier times been developed with small homes and businesses. HERRERA HOUSE (THE SAN MARTIN HOUSE) - Today it is Bonsai Arbor. This house was owned by Rafael Herrera who bought the property in 1854, it is named for Don Jose de San Martin who fought for independence in South America. TEJEDA HOUSE (The Caxias House) - Today it is Glassblower This house is one of the earliest houses in historical La Villita. Built by Jose and Refugia Duran Tejeda, it is also named for the Duke of Caxias, Brazil's most famous soldier in its fight for independence. HESSLER HOUSE (CANADA HOUSE) - Today it is Angelita Typical of 1870s construction, this house was built by Ernest Hessler. The construction is caliche-block with a gabled roof of standing seam metal. GUADALUPE HOUSE - Today it Originals The house and the walkway leading to it take their present names from the shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe which was constructed during the NYA era on the north side of the house. The floor tile was probably fired in the kiln behind the building during the early 1940s. KILN AND WEAVING BUILDING - Today it is Village Weavers This building was used to house the arts and crafts programs which were integral to the La Villita restoration project. Clay pavers, plaques and other materials used were fired in the kiln. Classes were also taught here for many years. BOLIVAR HALL - Today it is the administrative offices of La Villita and Bolivar Cafe A twentieth century building in the style of frontier military posts of the late 1800s, it now houses the administrative offices of La Villita and a post office. ESQUIDA/DOWNS/DIETRICH HOUSE - Today it is Little Studio Gallery Named for three of its owners, this house underwent numerous additions. Amazingly, this adobe structure was found in excellent condition inside the cinder block walls of the Joy Kist Candy Company's warehouse during renovations after Hemisfair'68. NEW YORK STAR CLEANING AND DYE WORKS - Today it is Scentchips USA This structure replaced town small adobe houses. The New York Star Cleaning and Dye Works operated here until 1933 when the property was leased by the Joy Kist Candy Company. DOSCH - RISCHE HOUSE - Today it is Galleria II Ernest Dosch and Ulrich Rische, proprietors of the Deer Horn Saloon, built this house sometime in the early 1880s. Earlier building methods are reflected in the narrow interior doorway and thick walls. SHAFER HOUSE - Today it is Nueva St.Gallery This house was built by A.H. Shafer after he purchased the properly in 1888. It was advertised in the early 1900s as a "nicely furnished apartment with hot and cold running water, electric lights and gas" 101 KING PHILIP V STREET - Today it is the home of The Sutler This house was built sometime before 1855 on Womble Alley. The interior of the house reveals caliche block walls and pine floors as well as beaded board ceiling and early wood mantle. CIRILUS GUISSI HOUSE - Today it is Artistic Endeavors Gallery Formerly located in the HemisFair area, the 1890s frame house was dismantled and reconstructed here in 1969 and forms the southwestern corner of Plaza Maverick.
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