San Antonio Public Library Share San Antonio History For June 13

Press release from the San Antonio Public Library:

June 13, 2021

1691

Domingo Teran de los Rios, first Governor of the new Province of Texas, accompanies Father Damian Massanet on his return trip to East Texas. Camping at a rancherria of Payaya Indians on a stream called Yanaguana, they celebrate mass and rename the stream San Antonio because it was the feast day of San Antonio de Padua.

1917

Because it has lost its commercial appeal, owners of the Spanish Governor’s Palace have revealed plans to tear the building down.

1968

An official Texas Historical Marker commemorating the naming of San Antonio is unveiled today downtown, near HemisFair. The marker citing the city’s 250th birthday, is located next to the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce headquarters facing Alamo Street at Commerce Street. San Antonio was officially founded in May 1718. The river, however, was first named on St. Anthony de Padua Day, June 13, 1691, by Spaniards.

This press release was produced by the San Antonio Public Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.