Belknap Place Plaque

A curious thing about streets. They bear witness to so much history. Right here at Belknap Place, we encounter a testament to San Antonio’s embrace of progress. Belknap Place isn’t just any street. It holds the distinction of being the oldest existing concrete pavement in Texas. A historical marker near the southeast corner of Belknap Place and West Mistletoe Avenue tells the story. In the early 20th century, as America urbanized and cars became more common, cities needed better roads. Belknap Place, built in 1914, represents this shift. It showcases an innovative “granitoid” process, a two-layer concrete placement that has allowed it to survive over a century with minimal repairs. The street’s stamped brick pattern also served a purpose. It provided a non-slip surface for horses’ hooves, a nod to the transportation of the past alongside the burgeoning automobile age. The project, approved by Mayor Clinton S. Brown, spanned from Dewey Place to West Agarita Avenue. The Texas Granitoid Company received $37,685.66 for the construction, a cost shared by the city and property owners. Belknap Place stands as a reminder of a time of rapid change and innovation in San Antonio, a time when the city paved its way into the future, literally. The street is named after Augustus Belknap, a prominent San Antonio figure who founded the city’s first streetcar system. While not directly related to the concrete construction, Belknap’s contribution to the city’s transportation infrastructure adds another layer of historical significance to the street that bears his name. So, as you stroll along Belknap Place, remember. You’re walking on a piece of history, a testament to San Antonio’s embrace of progress and innovation.