Fountain at Alamo Cement Company
Why it's listed
Near the old Alamo Cement Company office in San Antonio stands a round, roofed pond and fountain made entirely of sculpted concrete. Dionicio Rodriguez created it around 1926 in the faux bois tradition, which imitates wood and natural forms in cement. About 25 feet across, the pond sits under a thatched palapa roof laid in three concentric layers of bundles, held up by concrete trunks and enclosed by an intertwined log fence. The fountain imitates Texas Hill Country honeycomb limestone, with cement cactus plants and twisting snakes added as details. Rodriguez worked for company head Charles Baumberger, who commissioned pieces for the corporate headquarters, and it was among his earliest commercial commissions. The nomination notes that palapa-roofed fountains like this one have not been found elsewhere among his known works, and that he seems to have had freedom to use his own creativity. It was recognized for its artistic value as a work by a noted concrete artist.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a distinctive work of art by the noted concrete artist Dionicio Rodriguez, listed under Criterion C in the area of Art. The palapa-roofed fountain is described as unique among his known works. It is also one of his earliest commissions for a commercial site, and he appears to have had creative freedom in designing it.
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 05000862, listed August 9, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 7300 Jones Maltsberger Rd., San Antonio |
|---|---|
| County | Bexar County |
| Listed | August 9, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000862 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | c.1926 |
| Architect / builder | Dionicio Rodriguez |
| Architectural style | Other: Faux bois sculpture |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The fountain was non-operating in 2003 and needs some repair, but the structure is in fair condition. Faint traces of color remain, particularly under the roof. Its use is still a covered fountain and work of art. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.49768, -98.47941 (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 05000862.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5474785
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.