Presidio San Antonio de Béxar facts for kids
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Main and Military Plazas Historic District
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Spanish Military Governor's Palace
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 Location in Texas
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| Location | San Antonio, Texas United States |
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| Built | 1718 |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002914 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 11, 1979 |
| Designated HD | April 15, 1970 |
The Presidio de Béxar was a Spanish fort built a long time ago. It was located near the San Antonio River in what is now San Antonio, Texas, in the United States. This fort was made to protect a nearby mission called San Antonio de Valero and a town called Villa de Béjar.
The Presidio de Béxar was started on May 5, 1718. A Spanish official named Martín de Alarcón and his group of thirty-five soldiers built it. The Villa de Béjar was the first Spanish settlement in San Antonio. It was home to the families of the soldiers and other early explorers. The fort also helped Spain claim this land and keep other European countries away.
Building the Fort
From a place called the Convent of Querétaro, several trips were made to Spanish Texas. This area was very important to the Spanish king. In 1675, a group including Fray Antonio de Olivares explored the land beyond the Rio Grande. They wanted to see if new settlements could be built there.
In 1709, Olivares explored the area between modern-day San Antonio and the Colorado River. That same year, he went to Spain. He wanted to convince the leaders that it was important to keep this land. He also wanted them to build new missions along the San Antonio River. The Spanish leaders agreed with him. He stayed in Spain for six years.
In 1716, Fray Antonio de Olivares wrote to the Viceroy of New Spain. A viceroy was like a king's representative in a colony. Olivares shared his hopes for a new mission. He asked the viceroy to send families to start a town. He also said that some families should know useful skills. This would help teach the Native Americans to be good citizens.
Fray Antonio worked hard, and his efforts paid off. The Viceroyalty officially approved the missions in late 1716. They put Martín de Alarcón, the governor of Coahuila y Tejas, in charge of building them.
Fray Antonio de Olivares helped build the new mission, San Antonio de Valero. He also built the first irrigation ditch in Texas. This ditch, called Acequia Madre de Valero, was six miles long. It helped water 400 acres of land and supplied water to the new buildings.
The Presidio San Antonio de Béxar was built on the west side of the San Antonio River. It was about half a mile from the mission. Its job was to protect the missions and towns in central Texas. It also helped Spain keep its claim to the land. The first presidio was a simple adobe building with a grass roof. Soldiers and their families lived in small huts. As more settlers came, they gathered around the presidio and mission. This formed the town of Béjar, which became very important for Spanish Texas.
Life at the Presidio
On May 5, 1718, the Presidio San Antonio de Béxar was officially founded. This marked the start of the city of San Antonio, Texas. Martín de Alarcón led the event, and about 30 families settled nearby.
In 1719, a report was sent to the king of Spain. It suggested bringing 400 families from places like the Canary Islands to Texas. In 1730, some families came to Cuba and then to Veracruz. Led by Juan Leal Goraz, a group from Veracruz traveled to the Presidio San Antonio de Béxar. They arrived on March 9, 1731. These families joined the soldiers already living there. They formed the first government of the city, using the Presidio as their main office.
By 1726, there were 45 soldiers at the fort and 4 families living close by. The total number of civilians was about 200 people. The soldiers' living areas and the Spanish Governor's Palace were finished in 1749. This palace was for the military commander. This area became known as the Plaza de Armas, or military plaza.
In 1763, there were 22 soldiers at the presidio. Their job was to defend five nearby missions. The soldiers also worked as escorts and stopped cattle theft and smuggling. In 1772, other forts in the area closed. But Presidio San Antonio de Béxar stayed open. It became the main defense in Texas, with 80 soldiers. Béxar was made the capital of Texas, and the presidio captain became the regional governor.
In 1803, 100 soldiers from a group called the Second Flying Company of San Carlos de Parras came to help the presidio. They moved into the presidio's Plaza de Armas and the old mission of San Antonio de Valero. By 1806, all the troops had moved into the former Alamo Mission, which was now a fort.
Later Years and End of the Presidio
In 1811, a retired officer named Juan Bautista de las Casas convinced the soldiers to rebel against their Spanish leaders. Later, the soldiers supported the Spanish officers again. They joined the army and fought in a conflict called the Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition in 1813.
In 1825, Erasmo Seguín became the quartermaster of San Antonio. He held this job for ten years. During the Mexican and Texan wars of independence, the presidio soldiers were involved in many battles.
In 1835, Domingo de Ugartechea, a Mexican commander, was based at the presidio during the Texas Revolution. After the Battle of Béxar in December 1835, Mexican troops left Texas. Texian Colonel James C. Neill briefly commanded Béxar and the Alamo.
The Mexican army took back the town and the Alamo fort in March 1836 during the Battle of the Alamo. The Mexican soldiers were temporarily put back in charge. The presidio officially stopped existing when the Mexican Army surrendered in San Antonio on June 4, 1836. They surrendered to the Béxar Military Chief, Juan Seguin.
See also
In Spanish: Presidio de San Antonio de Béjar para niños
- Father Antonio de Olivares
- Alamo Plaza Historic District
- Main and Military Plazas Historic District
- Acequia Madre de bexar
