History of the Irish
Flats
Just three blocks from the Alamo, is an area
known as the Irish Flats. The residential community was home to both Irish and German
immigrants who came to the area between
1830 and 1860. The area they choose to settle
was flat bottom land, bounded on the south by
the Alamo Plaza and Houston streets; on the
north by 10th Street; on the west by Avenue C
(Broadway); and on the east by the ancient
Acequia Madre.
Churches in the Flats
The Irish Flats
Walking Tour
Early Irish Settlement dating back to
late 1840’s, San Antonio, Texas.
Please note that the remaining Irish
Flat houses are home to private
businesses, and are unavailable for
tours.
First Presbyterian Church, 1846
Irish Flat houses are considered unique, combining features of homes the immigrants left
in Ireland, as well as German and Spanish influences, giving the neighborhood a quaint, old
world look. With narrow front porches, low
rooflines and thatch roofs, the style identifies
the Irish Flat house as the "only indigenous
architectural style to have its origins in San
Antonio.” (S. A. Express-News.2/3/99.)
Legend has it that home building was a community effort using what might be termed as
soft stone, quarried near Mission Conception
on the south end of San Antonio.
St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1852
Sponsored by:
The Harp and Shamrock Society
of Texas
P.O. Box 15306
San Antonio, Texas 78212
In the 1850’s, faith communities grew in and
around the neighborhood, as evidenced by St.
Mary’s Catholic Church; St. Mark’s Episcopal
Church, and First Presbyterian Church.
The homes pictured are the few remaining examples of Irish Flat houses, which fell victim
to commercial expansion after 1917.
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1858
Area of the Irish Flats
Renovated Irish Flat Houses
1
Renovated Irish Flat Houses
4
6
305 N. Alamo St. (Ave D) The Beversdorff
House-built 1854– Heinrich & Wilhelmin
Beversdorff came from Prussia in 1852.
2
2
506 Bonham St. The Conrad Zuschlag
House-built in 1857. Conrad immigrated
from Germany and married Anna in 1866.
5
3
1
415 6th St. The Engelman-Muench Housebuilt 1858. Engleman sold to Martin Muench,
a city alderman, in 1865.
4
3
335 E. Crockett St. The Heiner House
/Huth House. Built by William Heiner in
1850 who immigrated from Germany 1846.
6
5
The
Alamo
127 E. McCullough Ave. The Ross Kennedy House-restored by First Presbyterian
Church and rented for special events
417 8th St. The Gustave Uhl HouseBecame resale store in 1979 to support Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital.