Garcia-Garza House
Also known as: Garza House
Why it's listed
Begun about 1856 on Salinas Street just north of downtown San Antonio, this house grew over time to suit its family. The original part is a row of caliche-block rooms fronted by a veranda with Corinthian columns. Around 1900 a two-story brick building was added at the rear, and in 1910 a brick-veneer tower and stair hall joined the two, at a cost of $3,000. A limestone addition was built at the back in 1982. It is the only residence left in what was once a middle-class neighborhood of houses and small businesses near the San Pedro Acequia. Mariano Garcia and Tomasa Chavez de Garcia built it on land she inherited from her father, Ignacio Chavez, and their descendants lived there until 1981, about 120 years, the longest occupation by one family of any San Antonio structure. It is also regarded as the oldest house in the immediate downtown area continuously used as a residence.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is among the oldest residential structures in San Antonio and the only house left in the heavily settled area just north of downtown near San Pedro Creek and the San Pedro Acequia. Members of one family lived in it for about 120 years, the longest continuous habitation by a single family of any San Antonio structure. It also shows architectural evolution across four generations of family ownership.
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 83003091, listed July 7, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 214 W. Salinas St., San Antonio |
|---|---|
| County | Bexar County |
| Listed | July 7, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003091 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- (specific dates 1856/1900/1910/1982) |
| Architect / builder | 1910 addition: F.R. Young & Co. |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Family occupation ended with a sale in 1981; the house was being converted to non-residential office use, and a 1982 rear addition and new roof were completed. Condition listed as excellent and altered. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 29.42801, -98.49544 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 83003091.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001602
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.