National Register Listing

U.S. San Antonio Arsenal

Roughly bounded by S. Flores and E. Arsenal Sts., and the San Antonio River, San Antonio, TX
The United States Arsenal in San Antonio was an important military post from 1859 until 1949, Congress debated the feasibility of establishing a permanent military installation in San Antonio for many months before Senator Jefferson Davis and others who favored the Texas site secured the San Antonio location. Later Daivis got the appropriations for the arsenal in-creased from $15,000 to $21,000. By September of 1859 the State of Texas gave to the military almost sixteen acres which had been purchased from P. H. Bell and G.P. Devine of San Anton Additional acreage was acquired in 1881. General David Emanuel Twiggs, veteran of the Mexican War and the War of 1812 and first commander of the Arsenal, assumed command of the Department of Texas for the Army in 1857 and moved his headquarters to the arsenal site at the old homestead of Dr. James M. Devine, former treasurer and mayor of San Antonio, when construction on the Arsenal began in 1858. General Twiggs did not keep his head-quarters long but the Devine estate remained the Commanding Officer's headquarters until ca. 1883. For almost three years the Arsenal served principally as a storage depot for ordnance supplies.

At the beginning of the Civil War in 1861 Ben McCulloch's state troops forced General Twiggs to surrender all forces and stores under his control: consequently, Twiggs was summarily dismissed from the Union Army although later that same year he was commissioned a major-general in the Confederate Anny. The Confederacy used this base to outfit and supply troops in the lower Rio Grande Valley, in the frontier forts, and for the Sibley Brigade which invaded New Mexico in 1862. At this same time two powder mills nearby furnished as much as 80,000 pounds of powder for the arsenal. Leather goods as well as bullets also were manufactured there by civilians under the direction of the Ordnance Detachment of the military. Following the Civil War the Arsenal compound became the chief source of supplies for troops on the Western frontier.

The twenty acre military reservation was continued as a supply depot during both world wars with 428,117,295 pounds of ammunition being received and 337,414,700 pounds shipped from July 1, 1941 to December 31, 1945 during World War II. Back in 1919, immediately after the First World War, as many as thirty-eight buildings composed the Arsenal area while only six buildings remain today. Although the government closed the Arsenal in 1949 it still uses the buildings for government offices. Throughout almost one hundred years the United States Arsenal contributed to making San Antonio one of the largest military cities in the country.

The Arsenal site, which was designated a historic Texas Landmark by the Texas State Historical Survey Committee in 1965, borders the historic King William area on ^he East with the San Antonio River being the divider between the two places. Both of these important historical and architectural sites are now jeopardized by a proposed expressway and a federal building project which would infringe upon the Arsenal site itself.
Bibliography
HABS, San Antonio Architectural Survey, 1968, John C, Garner, Director

Ramsdell, Charles, San Antonio: A Historical and Pictorial Guide, 1959, p. 116.

Warner, Ezra J., Generals in Gray, 1959, pp. 276,277.

Webb, Walter P.& H. Bailey Carroll, Handbook of Texas, II, 1952, pp. 541 & 812.
Local significance of the building:
Military

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1969.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.

The discovery of oil in 1901 near Beaumont, Texas, sparked an oil boom that transformed the state's economy and led to the rise of the modern petroleum industry.
Texas random facts
Bexar County, Texas, holds a significant place in the history of the Lone Star State. Native American tribes thrived in the region for centuries before the arrival of European explorers. In 1718, the Spanish established the Mission San Antonio de Valero, known as the Alamo, which became a symbol of Texas' fight for independence. The area came under Mexican control after Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821.

During the Texas Revolution in 1836, the Battle of the Alamo took place, where a small group of Texan defenders valiantly fought against Mexican forces. Although the defenders ultimately lost, their bravery and sacrifice galvanized the Texan cause. Soon after, the Republic of Texas was established, and Bexar County was officially created in 1837, named after San Antonio de Béxar.

Bexar County played a vital role in the westward expansion of the United States. It became part of the United States when Texas joined as the 28th state in 1845. The county saw significant growth with the construction of railroads, the establishment of military bases like Fort Sam Houston, and the influx of European immigrants. In 1968, HemisFair '68 brought international attention to the county, showcasing its rich cultural heritage and attracting visitors from around the world. Today, Bexar County is known for its vibrant tourism industry, robust military presence, renowned healthcare institutions, and prestigious educational establishments.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Bexar County, Texas.

  • Pre-19th Century: The region that would become Bexar County was inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Coahuiltecan and Lipan Apache.

  • 1718: The Spanish established the Mission San Antonio de Valero, known today as the Alamo, in what is now downtown San Antonio. This marked the beginning of Spanish colonization in the area.

  • 1821: Mexico gained independence from Spain, and the region came under Mexican control.

  • 1836: The Battle of the Alamo took place during the Texas Revolution, where a small group of Texan defenders fought against Mexican forces. Though the defenders were ultimately defeated, their resistance became a symbol of Texas independence.

  • 1837: The Republic of Texas officially established Bexar County, naming it after San Antonio de Béxar, the former Spanish name for the area.

  • 1845: Texas joined the United States as the 28th state.

  • 1861-1865: During the American Civil War, Bexar County remained part of the Confederacy.

  • Late 19th-early 20th century: The county saw growth and development with the expansion of railroads, the establishment of military bases like Fort Sam Houston, and the arrival of European immigrants.

  • 1968: HemisFair '68, a world's fair, was held in San Antonio, bringing national and international attention to the city and the county.