Navarro, Jose Antonio, House Complex
Also known as: Navarro House
Why it's listed
Three stuccoed limestone buildings and a gravel-and-flagstone patio make up the Jose Antonio Navarro House Complex on South Laredo Street in San Antonio. A two-story office, or despacho, sits at the southwest corner. A one-story house with a wide front gallery and a rear ell stands just to the north, and a hip-roofed kitchen with fireplaces lies toward the rear. Navarro, born in San Antonio in 1795, lived and worked here. He signed the Texas Declaration of Independence in 1836 as one of two native Texans to do so, served in several legislative bodies, and practiced law and ran a store. The complex is also valued as an example of San Antonio building in the 1850s. The San Antonio Conservation Society bought it in 1960 and restored it in 1962, work that earned architect Brooks Martin a state restoration award in 1970. Today it is furnished with period antiques and open as a museum.
Significance in brief: It was the residence and business place of Jose Antonio Navarro, one of two native Texans who signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. It is also considered architecturally significant as an example of San Antonio buildings of the 1850s.
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 72001353, listed March 24, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 228-232 S. Loredo St., San Antonio |
|---|---|
| County | Bexar County |
| Listed | March 24, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001353 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century; specific date 1850s |
| Architect / builder | Brooks Martin (architect for the restoration) |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition, altered, on its original site. Owned by the San Antonio Conservation Society, which bought it in 1960 and restored it in 1962. Used as a museum and for civic and social functions. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 29.42313, -98.49728 (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 72001353.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5047854
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.