Trolley Stop in Alamo Heights
Also known as: Bus Stop in Alamo Heights
Why it's listed
Three large concrete "tree trunks" with branch-like brackets hold up a gabled palapa roof at the corner of Broadway and Patterson Avenues in Alamo Heights. Sculptor Dionicio Rodriguez made the shelter around 1927 in the faux bois style, with surfaces that imitate bark and wood. Wooden seats surround each trunk, and each is different: one shows "decayed" wood with four bark-covered legs, one looks rotted away underneath, and one is a solid trunk. Charles Baumberger, president of the San Antonio Portland Cement Company, commissioned it as a gift to the city, and a bronze plaque records the presentation. The structure was moved a few yards west in 1931 when the street was widened and the median was removed. Two end sections were lost then. It remains a bus stop. It is significant as an artwork: it is the only known Rodriguez trolley stop and his only surviving piece given to a municipality by an individual.
Significance in brief: It is the only known trolley stop by Dionicio Rodriguez and the only known work of his with several large tree trunks supporting the roof. It is also the only surviving Rodriguez piece known to have been given by an individual to a municipality. It is significant as a work of art under Criterion C at the local level.
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 04001165, listed October 22, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4900 blk of Broadway, Alamo Heights |
|---|---|
| County | Bexar County |
| Listed | October 22, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04001165 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | c.1927 |
| Architect / builder | Dionicio Rodriguez |
| Architectural style | Other: Faux bois sculpture |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a bus stop and owned by the City of Alamo Heights. It was moved a few yards west in 1931, and two original end sections were removed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.47369, -98.46352 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 04001165.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001634
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.