History of the Irish Flats
Just three blocks from the Alamo, is an area
known as the Irish Flats. The residential com-
munity 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.
Irish Flat houses are considered unique, com-
bining features of homes the immigrants left
in Ireland, as well as German and Spanish in-
fluences, 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 com-
munity effort using what might be termed as
soft stone, quarried near Mission Conception
on the south end of San Antonio.
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 ex-
amples of Irish Flat houses, which fell victim
to commercial expansion after 1917.
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.
Sponsored by:
The Harp and Shamrock Society of Texas
P.O. Box 15306 San Antonio, Texas 78212
The Irish Flats Walking Tour
Churches in the Flats
First Presbyterian Church, 1846
St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1852
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1858
Renovated Irish Flat Houses
305 N. Alamo St. (Ave D) The Beversdorff House-built 1854– Heinrich & Wilhelmin Beversdorff came from Prussia in 1852.
127 E. McCullough Ave. The Ross Kenne-dy House-restored by First Presbyterian
Church and rented for special events
506 Bonham St. The Conrad Zuschlag House-built in 1857. Conrad immigrated from Germany and married Anna in 1866.
335 E. Crockett St. The Heiner House /Huth House. Built by William Heiner in 1850 who immigrated from Germany 1846.
415 6th St. The Engelman-Muench House-built 1858. Engleman sold to Martin Muench,
a city alderman, in 1865.
Renovated Irish Flat Houses
417 8th St. The Gustave Uhl House- Became resale store in 1979 to support San-ta Rosa Children’s Hospital.
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Area of the Irish Flats
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The Alamo