Buckeye Park Gate
Why it's listed
Two curving concrete "tree trunks" form the entrance gate to Buckeye Park in San Antonio. They cross at the top, where one trunk is notched and the other passes through it. Smaller curving "logs" brace the sculpture. The surface is heavily textured with imitation bark, knots and insect borings, a technique known as faux bois. The gate is about 8 feet 5 inches tall and 17 and a half feet wide. Though unsigned, it bears the trademarks of sculptor Dionicio Rodriguez, and a source cited in the form says he made it around 1926. A partial inscription names Hugo Traupmann, Director of Parks. Unlike a similar gate at a former cement company office, it stands alone without an adjoining fence. Besides Brackenridge Park, Buckeye Park is the only park in Texas with a surviving work attributed to Rodriguez. Remnants of color remain on the underside, and earlier repairs were poorly done. It was listed for its artistic value.
Significance in brief: The gate is nominated under Criterion C in the area of Art as a work attributed to Dionicio Rodriguez. It carries his trademark heavily textured bark with knots and insect holes, and a source cited in the form says he sculpted it. It is the only park site in Texas besides Brackenridge Park with a surviving sculpture attributed to him.
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 04001169, listed October 22, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1600 W. Wildwood, San Antonio |
|---|---|
| County | Bexar County |
| Listed | October 22, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04001169 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | c.1926 |
| Architect / builder | Dionicio Rodriguez (attributed) |
| Architectural style | Other: Faux bois sculpture |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The gate retains some remnants of color on its underside and shows evidence of inept repairs; the form says it could use careful restoration. Current function is still a gate and work of art. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.48116, -98.52196 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 04001169.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q110001587
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.