San Antonio National Cemetery
Why it's listed
San Antonio National Cemetery occupies about 3.7 acres on Paso Hondo Street. It was established in 1867 on land donated by the city, with a second tract added in 1884. The grounds are laid out in burial sections with circular plots at the east and west ends, enclosed by a stone wall built in 1939 and entered through iron gates. Surviving features include a stone rostrum from 1890, a flagpole, and a 1912 granite monument to unknown dead moved from the Fort Concho post cemeteries. The cemetery holds over 3,000 sites, and about 256 known Buffalo Soldiers are buried there. Thirteen Medal of Honor recipients are buried or memorialized there. Other burials include General John L. Bullis, Congressman Gustav Schleicher and Lt. George E. M. Kelly. It was listed for its association with the Civil War era and its service as a resting place for veterans of many conflicts. The period of significance runs from 1867 to 1949.
Significance in brief: The nomination finds the cemetery significant under Criterion A for its association with the Civil War era and for its role as a burial ground for veterans of many wars and all service branches. Burials include Buffalo Soldiers, Medal of Honor recipients, and figures such as Gen. John L. Bullis and Congressman Gustav Schleicher. It is part of the Civil War Era National Cemeteries multiple property group.
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 99001395, listed November 22, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 517 Paso Hondo St., San Antonio |
|---|---|
| County | Bexar County |
| Listed | November 22, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001395 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1867-1949 |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The cemetery closed to new burials in 1961, though some cremation sites remained available as of May 1999. Maintenance is handled under contract with a private firm. |
| Acreage | 3.7 |
| Coordinates | 29.42277, -98.46810 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
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 99001395.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7413344
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.