The River Walk History
The
Historic Events from 1536 to 1792
|
 In
Texas, water has been a lifeline for many generations
for centuries past. The San Antonio River is a source
of a South Texas Treasure, The San Antonio River Walk.
Development of San Antonio and its most popular tourism
attraction have come along way together. |
| |
| 1536 |
| Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca,
a shipwrecked captive of Indians, visits the interior
of Texas, sees and describes the River. |
| 1691 |
| June 13. Domingo Teran de los Rios,
first Governor of the new Province of Texas, accompanies
Father Damian Massanet on his return trip to East Texas.
Camping at a rancheria of Payaya Indians on a stream called
Yanaguana, someone said "let's celebrate mass and rename
the stream 'San Antonio' because it is Saint Antony's
day" |
| 1709 |
| The Espinoza-Aguirre-Olivares expedition
stops at the springs which Father Espinosa names San Pedro.
Father Olivares notes the river as a good site for later
missions. |
| 1716 |
| The Spanish Council of war approves
a site on the San Antonio River for a fortified presidio
(fort). The Domingo Ramon expedition, accompanied by the
trader St. Denis from Louisiana (who had come to the site
two years previous) establishes a presidio on the river.
This same council also approves the request by Father
Olivares to establish a mission at the site. |
| 1718 |
Martin de Alarcon, Governor of Texas,
reinforces the presidio. Its ten soldiers and their families
are recognized as the beginning of the villa. Alarcon
names the presidio San Antonio de Bejar in honor of the
Duque de Bejar, the viceroy's brother, who died a hero's
death defending Budapest from the Turks in 1686.
The Mission of San Francisco de Solano is moved from the
Rio Grande to merge with Mission San Antonio de Padua.
Father Olivares renames his merged mission Mission San
Antonio de Valero. The presidio, the villa and the mission
comprise the municipality named San Antonio de los Llanos
(of the Plains) by Governor Alarcon. |
| 1719 |
| Mission San Antonio moves to its
second site on the east bank near the present day St.
Joseph's Church on Commerce. |
| 1720 |
| Mission San Jose y San Miguel de
Aguayo is founded by Father Margil de Jesus, who names
it in honor of San Juse, San Miguel and Gov. Aguayo (Jose
de Azlor y Vlrto de Vera, the Marquis de Aguayo, appointed
Governon of Texas and Coahuila in 1719.) Olivares protests
Its closeness to Mission San Antonio. Captain Alazan lays
out the 10 leagues distance between the missions required
by the Laws of the Indies in order to give it the protection
of the presidio |
| 1721 |
| The Marquis de Aguayo moves the presidio
San Antonio de Bejar to Its present site on the Plaza
de Armas, where permanent-quarters are constructed for
the soldiers. In 1726 the settlement population is 200,
Including 45 military and their families. |
| 1723 |
| May 10. The King of Spain issues
a royal cedula ordering that 400 families be transported
from the Canary Islands for the purpose of establishing
a civil settlement in the vicinity of the Presidio de
Bejar. |
| 1724 |
| Mission San Antonio is moved to its
third and final site on Alamo Plaza because of hurricane
flooding at the previous site. |
| 1727-1744 |
| Acequia Madre de Valero/Alamo Ditch
is begun from the east side of the San Antonio River,
south of the springs and north of the present day Witte
Museum/Alligator Gardens building. |
| 1729 |
| The first 15 Canary Island families,
of the 400 slated, begin their trip to the Presidio San
Antonio. The King completely funds their journey via Havana
and Vera Cruz; then overland to their new homes, providing
detailed provisions for their final destination at the
Presidio San Antonio. |
| 1731 |
| March 9. The 15 families, plus 1
bachelor, arrive at the presidio to establish the first
legally recognized civil settlement. The call It Villa
de San Fernando In honor of King Ferdinand II. |
| 1731-1739 |
| San Jose Acequla constructed. |
| 1731-1745 |
| Espada Dam, Acequia and Aqueduct
constructed. Still in use. |
| 1734 |
| The cornerstone
of San Fernando Church (later Cathedral) is laid. |
| 1736 |
| Construction of the first bridge
to span the San Antonio River, connecting the Presidio
with Mission San Antonio, at site of the present Commerce
St. bridge. |
| 1738 |
| Acequla Principal/San Pedro Ditch
begun, diverting water from San Pedro Creek and returning
it to San Antonio River south of downtown. It was sited
on the ridgellne separating the San Pedro Creek and the
San Antonio River watersheds. Water could be drawn-from
both sides of the ditch. |
| 1778 |
| Beginning of American Revolution.
Acequia Labor Arriba/Upper Labor Ditch is begun, diverting
water from the west side of the river south of Hildebrand
and terminating in the Acequla Principal near 5 points. |
| 1792 |
| All the missions are closed down
by order of the Spanish government. Their lands are distributed
to the mission Indians attached to the compounds |
