Post Chapel, Fort Sam Houston
Also known as: Gift Chapel
Why it's listed
Fort Sam Houston's Post Chapel, also called the Gift Chapel, is a neoclassic white brick building on Wilson Street in San Antonio. Construction began in 1908 from a design by local architect Leo M.J. Dielmann. It features modified Corinthian columns at the entrance and a flat Roman copper dome. For its first three decades the post had no permanent chapel, and services were held in temporary shelters, open encampments and a small Episcopal church. Chaplain Thomas J. Dickson started the effort for a permanent building in 1907, and local civilians donated the funds, with the city giving land known as Maverick Park. President William H. Taft dedicated the chapel on 17 October 1909. Over the years it gained twenty-two stained glass windows, a pipe organ, electronic chimes and a worship area for the Jewish faith. It remains in use, open to the public and to all denominations, and is valued as a symbol of cooperation between the city and the military.
Significance in brief: The chapel has served as the religious center of Fort Sam Houston since 1909 and is described as a symbol of cooperation between San Antonio citizens and the servicemen at the post. Local civilians donated the funds for its construction, and President William H. Taft dedicated it on 17 October 1909. It also holds memorial stained glass, flags and an organ added over decades.
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 74002057, listed May 17, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Bldg. 2200, Wilson St., San Antonio |
|---|---|
| County | Bexar County |
| Listed | May 17, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002057 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1908 construction begun (20th Century) |
| Architect / builder | Leo M.J. Dielmann, architect |
| Architectural style | Neoclassic |
| Areas of significance | Military, Religion |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition marked excellent and altered, on its original site; occupied and in use as a military and religious facility, with services open to the public. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Fort Sam Houston |
| Coordinates | 29.44854, -98.45894 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
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 74002057.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001618
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.