The Yturri–Edmunds Historic Site is a historic site in

San Antonio ("Cradle of Freedom") , image_map = , mapsize = 220px , map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1= State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , subdivision_t ...

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...

. The house is listed on the

National Register of Historic Places listings in Bexar County, Texas This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Bexar County, Texas. This is intended to be a complete list of properties and districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Bexar County, Texas. There are 2 ...

. The homestead and mill were designated a

Recorded Texas Historic Landmark Recorded Texas Historic Landmark (RTHL) is a designation awarded by the Texas Historical Commission for historically and architecturally significant properties in the U.S. state of Texas. RTHL is a legal designation and the highest honor the st ...

in 1966.

History

In the early 19th century during the era of Mexico's

General Colonization Law The Colonization Law of August 18, 1824 was a Mexican statute allowing foreigners to immigrate to the country. Background Under Spanish rule, New Spain was populated almost solely with native peoples or Spanish settlers. Foreign immigration was fo ...

, Manuel Yturri de Castillo was given a land grant on property once owned by

Mission Concepcion Franciscan Friars established Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de Acuña (also Mission Concepción) in 1711 as Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de los Hainais in East Texas. The mission was by the Domingo Ramón- ...

. He was thought to have been born in Spain, but immigrated to Mexico. There, he was employed by Spanish merchants who transferred him to San Antonio. In 1821, he married Maria Josefa Rodriguez, whose family were among the first

Canary Islander Canary Islanders, or Canarians ( es, canarios), are a Romance people and ethnic group. They reside on the Canary Islands, an autonomous community of Spain near the coast of northwest Africa, and descend from a mixture of European settlers and ab ...

s to arrive in the area in 1731. Upon his death, his property passed to his heirs. His granddaughter Ernestine Edmunds bequeathed the property in the historic site to the

San Antonio Conservation Society The Conservation Society of San Antonio (legally incorporated as the San Antonio Conservation Society) is located in the Bexar County city of San Antonio in the U.S. state of Texas. Founding members were Emily Edwards, who became the organizati ...

(SACS), which took possession of it in 1961.

Historic site

The adobe-block house, which is thought to have been built by Yturri de Castillo 1840–1860, was listed on the

, in 1996. SACS began major restoration in 1964, which included repairs, rebuilding of the porch area, re-plastering, and complete interior restoration. Also on the site is an operational grist mill thought to have existed when Yturri de Castillo bought the property. Former Pioneer Flour Mills executive Ernst Schuchard and architect Marvin Eickenroht oversaw the complete restoration of the mill in 1964. An 1881 two-story carriage house originally on the Oge property was purchased by SACS in 1964, restored and moved to the Yturri–Edmunds site. A caliche and stone home built by Cristof Postert on South Flores was donated to SACS in 1984 and also moved to the Yturri–Edmunds site. The site is operated as a museum by SACS, on a by-appointment basis, and admission fees apply. With a 2-week notice, visitors are able to see the mill in operation.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yturri Houses in San Antonio Historic house museums in Texas History of San Antonio Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks National Register of Historic Places in San Antonio Mexican-American culture in San Antonio Mexican Texas Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Texas Museums in San Antonio Spanish-American culture in Texas