Stations of the Cross and Grotto at the Shrine of St. Anthony de Padua
Why it's listed
Fourteen tall honeycomb limestone Stations of the Cross and a grotto stand along Peter Baque Road in San Antonio, on the grounds of the Shrine of St. Anthony de Padua. Sculptor Dionicio Rodriguez built the grotto in 1933 and the stations in 1936, under the supervision of Reverend Peter Baque. Each station is 13 to 16 feet tall, topped with pinnacles and a cement Celtic cross, and holds a marble relief of a scene from the Way of the Cross, with a donor's name below. The grotto is lined inside with seashells and holds statues of St. Anthony and the Virgin Mary. The parish was founded in 1925 to serve families of Cementville, a settlement of Alamo Portland Cement Company employees. The property was listed for its artistic value as Rodriguez's work, and it is one of only two Stations of the Cross he built. A relocated chapel on the site does not contribute to its significance.
Significance in brief: The property is nominated under Criterion C in the area of Art, at the local level, as the work of sculptor Dionicio Rodriguez. It is part of the Sculpture of Dionicio Rodriguez in Texas multiple property submission. Because it is a religious property, it also meets Criteria Consideration A, deriving its significance primarily as a work of art.
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 04001170, listed December 23, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 100 Peter Baque Rd., San Antonio |
|---|---|
| County | Bexar County |
| Listed | December 23, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04001170 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1933-1936 |
| Architect / builder | Dionicio Rodriguez |
| Architectural style | Other: Rock sculpture |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The stations and grotto are described as in good condition, though some stations have broken or missing pinnacles. A noncontributing chapel was moved onto the site in 2002 and was being remodeled as an adoration chapel in 2003. The property continues in religious and cultural use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Brackenridge Park |
| Coordinates | 29.50334, -98.47072 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 04001170.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000181
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.