Alamo National Bank Building
Also known as: Old Alamo National Bank Building
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Why it's listed
Rising eight stories at the corner of East Commerce and Presa streets in downtown San Antonio, this granite-faced office building began as the main office of the Alamo National Bank. Planned in 1902 by architect James Wahrenberger with the firm of Coughlin and Ayres, it draws on Renaissance Revival design, with giant-order Corinthian columns on the fourth and fifth floors and a rounded corner bay that leads into the former banking hall. In 1913 the city widened East Commerce Street, and rather than cut back the facade, engineers moved the whole building, about 8,000 tons, 16 feet southward on steel rollers, while offices stayed open. The bank added three stories in 1916, and the original copper cornice was reinstalled at the top. The bank later built a larger headquarters nearby, and the older building housed the Morris Plan Bank and then various office tenants. It was recently renovated for office use. Its architecture and unusual relocation are the reasons for its recognition.
Significance in brief: The building is cited as a fine example of Renaissance Revival design and of the classic phase of architect James Wahrenberger's career. It is also notable for its 1913 relocation, when the roughly 8,000-ton structure was shifted back 16 feet to allow East Commerce Street to be widened. Offices kept operating during the move.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 84001574, listed January 5, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 316 E. Commerce St., San Antonio |
|---|---|
| County | Bexar County |
| Listed | January 5, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001574 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | James Wahrenberger/Coughlin & Ayres |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Mostly vacant during much of the 1960s; acquired in 1982 and recently renovated for future office use. Condition listed as excellent, altered and moved. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.42375, -98.48907 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 84001574.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107318450
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.