Carver, George Washington, Library and Auditorium
Also known as: Carver Community Cultural Center
Why it's listed
Built in 1929 on San Antonio's near-east side, this brown brick building with cast stone trim and Egyptian Revival detailing was constructed as the Colored Branch of the San Antonio Library and Auditorium. It replaced a recreation center opened in 1919 for returning World War I soldiers, and the city bought the site in 1925 and opened a library branch there. The new building, designed by Carl Von Seutter and Malcolm Simons, opened in 1930 and was named for George Washington Carver in 1938. Until desegregation it served as an educational and social center for the city's African American community. Its auditorium hosted performers such as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington and Count Basie, along with political and religious speakers, dances and graduations. The library closed in 1973, and the building reopened in 1976 as a cultural center. Additions came in 1950 and 1986. Its significance spans 1929 to 1954, the year the city integrated its public facilities, and it retains much of its original character.
Significance in brief: It served as a gathering place for San Antonio's African American community during segregation and hosted leading Black performers, speakers and community events. It is also a good, well-preserved example of an Art Deco public building with Egyptian Revival detailing. It is described as a prominent physical reminder of segregation in the city.
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 03001162, listed November 15, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 226 N. Hackberry St., San Antonio |
|---|---|
| County | Bexar County |
| Listed | November 15, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03001162 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1929-1954 |
| Architect / builder | Seutter & Simons (1929); Leo M.J. Dielmann (1950); Haywood, Jordan, McGowan (1975-76; 1986) |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement: Art Deco |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Black, Performing Arts, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed in 2000 for renovation (code compliance, structural repairs, restoration of finishes); scheduled to reopen in early 2004. Current function is auditorium/performance venue. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.42229, -98.47279 (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 03001162.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001590
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.