A vibrant future begins with a colorful past.

THE CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF The story of San Antonio cannot be captured in black and white alone. Those who have gone before left a bold canvas created with a palette of stone and adobe, of oak trees and agave, of water and work. With an eye toward the future, The Conservation Society of San Antonio advocates for the preservation of this rich architectural, natural and cultural legacy, letting us and generations to come experience it with all of our senses, in all of its dimensions and color. The story of San Antonio cannot be captured in black and white alone. Those who have gone before left a bold canvas created with a palette of stone and adobe, of oak trees and agave, of water and work. With an eye toward the future, The Conservation Society of San Antonio advocates for the preservation of this rich architectural, natural and cultural legacy, letting us and generations to come experience it with all of our senses, in all of its dimensions and color. Purchase of 192 6 Mission San José granary doors. Understanding value, regardless of price. The Conservation Society of San Antonio is one of the first and most effective When others wanted to sell the last original Mission San José granary doors, a small but determined group of citizens rallied to save them. Today, thanks community preservation groups in the country. Spurred by San Antonio’s rapid to nearly a century of advocacy and education by The Conservation Society, millions of visitors have experienced firsthand the richness of San Antonio’s urbanization nearly a century ago, Society founders and mission heritage.

Emily Edwards, both artists, realized a need for an organization that would be stewards of our city’s unique history. Today, we can point to hundreds of natural and cultural landmarks that are still standing because of The Conservation

Society of San Antonio. Our city’s status as the top tourist destination in Mission San José designated 194 1 National Historic site. is both an economic generator and a testament to the unique appeal of a landscape steeped in heritage and natural beauty. 1924 1926 1929 193 6 194 1 194 2 And after a century of success, we are just getting started. Artists Rena Maverick Green Undeterred by the razing of the The Society endorses San José compound The Society, Bexar County, Purchase of and organize Market House, the newly formed Robert Hugman’s River dedicated. and Catholic Church transfer Dashiell House at The Conservation Society Society pursues visionary Walk beautification plan. San José Mission (except 511 Villita Street. to save the historic 1859 preservation projects including Purchase of Espada church) to the State of Texas. Market House and other protection of the San Antonio Mission Aqueduct. historic, cultural and natural Missions and supporting the Dedication of restored River landmarks. creation of the . Walk and . 193 3 San José Mission Granary restoration completed. 1929 Conservation Society purchases San José Mission Granary for restoration.

San Antonio Light Photograph Collection, UTSA Special Collections. 1940 Indian Harvest Festival Yturri-Edmunds House moved to San Antonio donated to Conservation Society. River as promotion for 196 1 River Walk project. 193 6 Sensing is believing. 1946 The Yturri-Edmunds House, one of the county’s last City requests Indian remaining adobe-block houses, is one of two historic Harvest Festival move to La Villita for Fiesta. house museums owned by The Conservation Society Later renamed Night in of San Antonio. Along with the Steves Homestead, ® Old San Antonio . Yturri-Edmunds immerses visitors in history in a way that is uniquely multi-sensory and memorable. 1955 NIOSA® attendance exceeds 10,000.

1956 NIOSA® adds Inaugural Indian a third night. 1958 Harvest Festival, NIOSA® adds the precursor a fourth night. to NIOSA®, on San José 194 9 195 2 195 3 195 4 195 7 195 9

Purchase of Bombach Edna Steves Vaughan Campaign begun to Restored Steves Texas Supreme Court Defeat of multi-story Mission Plaza. House at Villita and donates Steves Homestead save José Antonio Homestead house bars construction of tourist information center South Alamo streets. at 509 King William Street. Navarro House complex. museum opens to public. garage, in Alamo Plaza. ending threat of garages The Society backs under city parks. Purchase of O. Henry Maverick family heirs to House, later moved to avoid construction of Purchase of 25 acres Lone Star Brewery Grounds. 1,100 car garage under near Espada dam for San Antonio Light Photograph Collection, Travis Park. Acequia Park. UTSA Special Collections. Restored Navarro House MOTTO 196 4 complex opens to public. Saving more than “Shall I 196 2 local treasures. NIOSA® profits for When urban renewal claimed many of the city’s say ‘Yes, historic preservation exceed $100,000. historic buildings in the 1960s, The Society saved I remember it.’ the home of Texas patriot, José Antonio Navarro, 197 6 and kept it in its original location. The significance La Villita enlarged as part of HemisFair urban renewal. Attendance reaches of the history represented by the once endangered or ‘Here it is, 196 8 100,000 making Navarro house has been recognized statewide NIOSA® the nation’s and is a National Historic Landmark. I helped It takes a village largest historic preservation to save it’?” to save one. fundraising event. San Antonio’s original “Little Village” is one example of The Conservation Society’s collaborative approach 198 5 to preservation. The Society began conservation NIOSA® profits first exceed $500,000. – Miss Anna Ellis efforts with then Mayor Maury Maverick in the 1930s with federal funding. Over the years, the buildings of La Villita have been saved through public and private partnerships and are now home to art galleries, restaurants, and NIOSA®.

Courtesy of the Texas Historical Commission (www.thc.texas.gov) 196 4 196 5 196 7 197 4 197 5 197 6 197 7 197 8 197 9 198 1 198 2 198 3

Court battle won to Purchase of Old Ursuline City of San Antonio The Society’s Historic Ursuline Academy sold to Espada Aqueduct National Trust for Reuter Building façade is Purchase and Successful PR campaign Hertzberg Clock at Albert Maverick restore water flow in Academy complex. adopts its first historic Buildings Chair, Southwest Craft Center for property transferred Historic Preservation first façade easement preservation of Staacke to restore fire-damaged Houston and St. Mary’s Building, the oldest on San Juan Acequia. zoning ordinance. Pat Osborne, becomes restoration. to city. Crowninshield Award donated to The Society. and Stevens buildings Municipal Auditorium. streets donated to Houston Street, saved. Resolution passed for City’s first Historic received for national on Commerce St. The Society. preservation of 22 historic Preservation Officer. Acequia Park transferred to city. impact on historic Congress passes Purchase and resale buildings in HemisFair. preservation activities. of Rand Building for Stuemke Barn Navarro House deeded to Texas National Historical Park preservation. relocated to U.S. Department of Commerce Parks and Wildlife Commission. bill after intense Society Wulff House grounds. selects The Society to oversee lobbying. preservation of these structures. Preserve the past. Fight for the generations.

Celebrate the present.

Shape the future. Shape the future.

Preserve the past. If we have learned one thing from history, it is that we won’t be around forever. But we can help shape the future by instilling Preserving the past starts with understanding a love of history in a new generation of San Antonians. what’s out there and dedicating resources to save it. Annually, our Heritage Education Tours introduce more than The Conservation Society of San Antonio inventories 2,000 students to the Spanish Colonial Missions. In these heritage resources, working closely with community irreplaceable historic spaces, we teach pride in the community, partners to protect them. From historic gas stations to respect for the past, and hope for the future. farm and ranch headquarters, The Conservation Society seeks to find a future for these community assets. Fight for the generations. Celebrate the present. When history is threatened, The Conservation Society of San Antonio takes a stand. Not only for today, but for future Conservation is not just saving old buildings. It is about generations who will lose the full story of San Antonio if our bringing new life to landmarks and landscapes, making cultural and natural resources are lost. As advocates for them vital and relevant to our present day. San Antonio’s conservation, we meet with neighborhood, city, state, and original party with a purpose, A Night In Old San Antonio®, national leaders, to listen and learn, and ultimately fight is one way in which we invite everyone in the community for an authentic picture of San Antonio. to celebrate our city’s cultural heritage traditions while raising funds for preservation. Fairmount Hotel relocated, setting world record for 198 5 heaviest building moved.

When an immovable object met an unstoppable force. When city developers wanted to demolish the Fairmount Hotel to make way for Rivercenter Mall, The Conservation Society stepped in. Society members orchestrated the move of the 1,600 ton, three-story building six blocks. This may be the largest, but certainly not the only, example of The Society’s tenacity and commitment to historic preservation. In this instance, the unstoppable force won.

Photo courtesy of the San Antonio Express-News.

Photo courtesy of the San Antonio Express-News. Restoration of 2001 Hays Street Bridge. Building bridges, connecting communities. When residents wanted to save the Hays Street Bridge, a vital link connecting San Antonio’s eastside and downtown, the Conservation Society rose to the challenge with a $50,000 grant. The Society helped preserve this bridge including a rare Whipple-Phoenix truss from 1881. The Hays Street Bridge project highlights the Society’s role in supporting grass roots efforts to save beloved neighborhood landmarks.

Development of Ellis Alley 1998 on the East Side. Restoring the heart of a community. After the Civil War, Ellis Alley was part of the first “freedom colony” of African-American residents and remained the hub of the East Side community for nearly a century. The Conservation Society was instrumental in the restoration and reuse of three original homes. 198 8 198 9 199 2 199 3 199 4 199 5 199 6 199 8 199 9 2000 2001

Restoration of Las Casas Foundation Fort Aztec Theatre sold $300,000 pledged toward Renovation of Robert E. Lee Hotel for The Society official history, Work begins on Project Development, in conjunction with Federal Realty American Institute of Architects Dedication of restored Franklin House on the restores and reopens quadrangle restored as with preservation the restoration of the downtown housing. Saving San Antonio: The ReNew to revitalize the Investment Trust, of revitalization design guidelines “Institute Honors for Collaborative San José Granary San Antonio Academy Majestic Theatre first step in restoration covenants. San Pedro Playhouse. Precarious Preservation neighborhood south of for Houston Street. Achievement Award” received in gristmill attended by campus funded in with help from of the post’s 934 Sullivan Carriage House moved and reassembled of a Heritage by Lewis F. Five Points. recognition of The Society’s President George W. and part by The Society. Society grants. historic buildings. at the San Antonio Botanical Garden with funding Fisher, published. Grant to city for iron fences around cemeteries on 75 years of beneficial influence First Lady Laura Bush. assistance from The Society. East Commerce. on the architectural profession.

Society establishes Mary Ann Blocker Castleberry Donation toward the restoration of San Juan as Chair for Historic Preservation in the UTSA Acequia to maintain rights to water irrigating Mission graduate architecture program. San Juan Capistrano and adjacent farmlands. Local landmark designation for Support for funding 2008 ten historic farms and ranches. 2010 to save Lerma’s Nite Club. Preserving a way of life. Because cultural The farms and ranches around Bexar County tell 2004 history matters. the story of our frontier heritage. The Conservation Froggy Bottom, named Lerma’s Nite Club, one of the oldest, continuously Society’s inventory of houses, barns, jacales, and for the Louisiana region where Black settlers operated conjunto music venues, was threatened other structures documents our regional migrated from in the with demolition. The Society secured funding agricultural and ranching industries. 1800s, added to from the National Trust for Historic Preservation NIOSA®. The area to ensure that this building’s ephemeral cultural pays tribute to African-American history wasn’t lost. culture through music and food.

2011 French Quarter expanded into South Alamo Street between Villita and Nueva. The food and music represents the early French settlers who came through San Antonio.

Rita Rozelle Schimpff Collection 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2018

Grant to Hidalgo Collaboration with City “Trails to Treasure” benefit Society starts the Collaboration with the City and Establishment of the Participation in the Successful advocacy Successful application Advocacy for the Funding support pledged Society announces Foundation for restoration to maintain visibility of for Hays Street Bridge process to nominate a local non-profit to save and creation of the international for amended ordinance for state and local Texas Historic for the Mission San Juan $300,000 Tricentennial of the Bexar County Stinson Airport terminal’s restoration. the San Antonio relocate Carol Burnett’s childhood Conservancy in conjunction award-winning River North governing street name landmark designation for Rehabilitation Spanish Colonial Farm, the commitment to restore Courthouse. original Art Deco façade. Missions as a World home for reuse as an after-school with the City Parks and Master Plan. changes affecting Alamo Stadium. Tax Credit. only one of its kind in the 1877 Pump House #1 Coordination of project Heritage Site. learning center. Recreation Department and historic streets. United States. in Brackenridge Park. to stabilize the adobe community stakeholders. Successful advocacy effort Society promotes preservation Bergara-Le Compte House to establish a preservation of HemisFair ’68 Confluence on Guadalupe Street. easement on the 1848 Theater (Wood Courthouse) James Trueheart House and Institute of Texan Cultures and surrounding land. buildings. 2015 World Heritage status awarded to the San Antonio Missions. Because history is not always made on the battlefield. 2019 The Conservation Society of San Antonio fights to save ordinary places made extraordinary by the efforts of committed citizens. Woolworth Building In the heart of downtown, the Woolworth Building was the site of the nation’s first peaceful, voluntary lunch counter integration on on list of Texas’ March 15, 1960 during the Civil Rights sit-in movement. Nearly 60 years later, this important site is a state antiquities landmark Because history never stops being made, Most Endangered because of The Conservation Society’s effort. Historic Places. the Conservation Society of San Antonio will never stopWill fighting we pass for alongpreservation. Will youmemories join our oreffort to tell the uniquememorable story ofplaces? San Antonio in all of its richness and color? Because history is not always made on the battlefield. 2019 The Conservation Society of San Antonio fights to save ordinary places made extraordinary by the efforts of committed citizens. Woolworth Building In the heart of downtown, the Woolworth Building was the site of the nation’s first peaceful, voluntary lunch counter integration on on list of Texas’ March 15, 1960 during the Civil Rights sit-in movement. Nearly 60 years later, this important site is a state antiquities landmark Because history never stops being made, Most Endangered because of The Conservation Society’s effort. Historic Places. The Conservation Society of San Antonio will never stop fighting for preservation. Will you join our effort to tell the unique story of San Antonio in all of its richness and color? 107 King William St. | San Antonio, TX 78204 | [email protected]

For more information about our current initiatives and how you can become a member, call 210.224.6163 or visit SAconservation.org