Site of de la Garza House, Gardens and Mint Plaque

Whispers of fortunes made and lost still echo around the Site of de la Garza House, Gardens and Mint. This unassuming spot holds the echoes of San Antonio’s first mint. Imagine a grand home, a full city block in size, with lush gardens enclosed by imposing three-foot-thick walls. That was the De la Garza House, built in 1734. The Site of de la Garza House, Gardens and Mint Plaque marks this historically significant location. It’s attached to the Rand Building at the corner of Soledad and Houston Streets, a silent sentinel guarding the stories of the past. The De la Garza family, prominent landowners and figures in San Antonio’s history, called this place home. Jose Antonio de la Garza, a man of vision, established the mint here in 1818. With permission from the Spanish crown, he struck coins known as “jolas”. These coins, bearing his initials “JAG” and the year 1818 on one side, and a single star on the other, circulated for about a year and a half. Some believe this lone star inspired the symbol we associate with Texas today. The Site of de la Garza House, Gardens and Mint Plaque stands as a testament to this ingenuity. Jose Antonio de la Garza wasn’t just a money maker. He was a prominent figure in San Antonio, serving as mayor twice, in 1813 and 1832. His family, loyal to Spain and then Texas, played a significant role in the city’s development. The De la Garza House, with its thick walls and sprawling gardens, witnessed history unfold. Sadly, in 1912, the house was demolished. It took six months to dismantle the sturdy structure. During demolition, workers unearthed hidden treasures. They found a stash of money, a secret the house had kept for years. They also discovered a cannonball lodged in the wall, a relic perhaps from the Siege of Bexar in 1832, a pivotal moment in the Texas Revolution. The Site of de la Garza House, Gardens and Mint stands as a reminder of a bygone era. A time of grand homes, family legacies, and the birth of a state’s identity. So, as you stand here, before the plaque, let your imagination wander back to those early days of San Antonio. Picture the bustling activity of the mint, the scent of the gardens, and the weight of history within those thick adobe walls.