Explore Historic Sunset Station on your own with a guided tour that brings the complex and St. Paul Square to life. Discover the history beyond the walls of each one of a kind venue and surrounding areas.
Sunset Station Complex 1. Southern Pacific Depot 1902
Constructed for the sum of $115,000, the Southern Pacific Depot was one of the main stopping points along the famous Sunset Limited Route to California. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the train station was called “the building of 1,000 lights” because of the many electric lights installed during its construction. These lights may have contributed to a 1907 electrical fire that destroyed the roof and severely damaged the southwest corner of the building, which was repaired the following year. The depot has recently been painstakingly restored to its original splendor, including the re-creation of the 16-foot-diameter rose window that fills the north end of the building. According to local lore, a Southern Pacific CEO removed the original window and had it shipped to his home in California. Upon his death, the window passed to his sister, a nun, who had the piece shipped to somewhere in the Northwest and stored in a warehouse; it supposedly remains there today. The creation and installation of the
current window is part of the multi-million restoration and development project that focused on returning the St. Paul Square area to its original turn-of-the-century glory. 2. Engine No. 794 1916
This original Southern Pacific 135-ton locomotive, one of only four "Mikado" engines left in the United States, was retired and given to the city in 1957. Engine No. 794 served from 1916-1956 as a freight train, running trips from San Antonio to Del Rio, Corpus Christi, Houston and Kerrville. With the renovation of the Southern Pacific Depot, No. 794 returned home in January 1999, a move reflecting the historical significance of the city's railroading past. The move to the Depot took three days, as the locomotive and tender were the second heaviest objects ever relocated by truck in San Antonio. The heaviest object to be relocated by truck was the Fairmont Hotel, a San Antonio landmark. Center Street 3. Collins-Gunther Building 1908 201 N.Center Street
The City Parking Building saw a succession of businesses move through its doors. This building was constructed in 1908 by Collins-Gunther, a foundry and machinery company. The structure occupied the south half of the lot, and an open storage yard covered the northern half. Since its completion, the building has seen many uses. It was sold to Axtell and Altgelt Company in 1909, and later tenants included Western Novelty Company (1912), Southern Fruits Produce Company (1914), Heck Machinery Company (1915) and Weyl-Zuckerman Company (1918). The Southern Pacific Railway Company enjoyed the longest tenure in the building, moving in during 1940 and remaining until the 1980s. 4. Railway Express c. 1915 239-241 Center Street
Several homes were demolished between 1915 and 1919 in order to make way for construction of the American Railway Express Company Stables building. The brick building housed the Express Company's garage until the 1950s and then the San Antonio Machine and Supply Company used it as a warehouse until 1965. Between 1970 and 1998, the San Antonio Express-News used the premises for a garage and distribution center. 5. St. Paul Methodist Episcopal Church c.1880
230 Center Street
St. Paul Methodist Episcopal Church was organized by San Antonio's African American community in 1866 soon after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. In 1870, nearby property was donated to the church, and the congregation purchased this site in 1872. This stone structure, built in the middle 1880s to replace an earlier frame church, served. St. Paul's until 1922 when the congregation moved to a new sanctuary at North Mesquite and Center Streets. Prior to renovation as a law office in the middle 1970s, the old church served as a funeral home. East Commerce Street 6. George Icke and Brothers Grocery 1905
1103 E. Commerce
This building served as the George Icke and Brothers Grocery, one of the major shopping points in the area for 40 years. 7. Cameo Theater 1940 1121 E. Commerce
Built to capitalize on the growing popularity of motion pictures, "going to see a show," at the Cameo was one of the social highlights of the area. The Cameo Theater continued operations throughout the 40s and 50s, but closed its doors during the 1960s. In the 1970s, the building was renovated and used by the
San Antonio Muslims as Muhammads Temple of Islam. In the mid-1980s, the building was home to a reggae night club owned by former San Antonio Spur Alvin Robinson. 8. Zumbro Building 1907 1123 E. Commerce
Originally H.F. Wosnig & Co. Grocers from 1907 to 1910, it received its nickname from the Zumbro Cafe, Bar and Hotel that operated in this spot during the 50s and 60s. Other tenants included the Tulane Hotel (1910-1915) and various other hotels, rooming houses and restaurants.
9. Simon House 1870 1141 E. Commerce
Originally built by John Hildebrant as a residence for Louise Vaughn, the home was later occupied by Adolph and Christina Simon. Eventually the building became commercially oriented, housing such businesses as a shoe shine shop and a bar and grill. Later, in the 1980s, Aldaco’s Restaurant started in this building and soon became a downtown favorite. 10. The SP Hotel 1912 1145-49-53 Commerce
A succession of businesses paraded through this structure, including several hotels, a grocery store, fruit stand, clothier, bar, shoe store and cafe. Prior to restoration of the St. Paul Square area, the building earned its nickname from one of its lodging occupants, The SP Hotel, reflecting the hotel’s proximity to the Southern Pacific Depot. 11. Alamo Depot 1915 1157-59-61-63 E. Commerce
This building once housed such enterprises as the Commercial Cafe, Joe Talerico's Fruit Stand, Prochnow and Donnell Druggists, Union House Cafe and London Tailors. 12. Southern Pacific Drug 1915 1167 E. Commerce
Moody's Fancy Cleaners and The Southern Pacific Drug and News Stand occupied this building which was originally constructed in 1915. This building also served as the restoration project headquarters. 13. Palace Hotel 1905 1170-72 E. Commerce
Home of the Palace Hotel and the adjacent Palace Bar, managed in its early years by Fritz Schilo who later opened a popular delicatessen downtown. Prochnow’s Drug Store, Felix J. Burg’s Barber Shop, and a cigar store were residents in later years. Following the first area renewal in the 1970s, this building and the Model Apartments building were home to a night club owned by then Dallas Cowboys Tony Dorsett, Harvey Martin, and Ed “Too Tall” Jones. Now the famed Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse calls this building home. 14. Model Apartments 1907 1164 E. Commerce
The Model Apartments, Model Restaurant and Wolfe Jaffe’s dry goods store were this building’s first residents. Later residents included Stalling’s Confectionary Shop, a shoe repair shop, and the Prince and Waldorf Hotels. 15. Katy Apartments 1904 1158-60 E. Commerce
This is one of the earliest buildings in the area. Early occupants included the Katy Rooms, the Texas Restaurant, and M. Shapan’s grocery store. Later tenants included a barber shop, the Tobias Jewelry Company, and the New Wabash and Windsor Hotels. The architect of the 1970’s urban renewal project was located in this building. 16. Sunset Pharmacy 1904 1156 E. Commerce
William Appmann’s Sunset Pharmacy was the first resident of the first building along Commerce Street in St. Paul Square. The upper floor was occupied by the Farmer Hotel. By 1940 the ground floor was occupied by the Grothaus Drug Store and the upper floor by Laura Lee Rooms. 17. Sunset Apartments c. 1905 1148-50 E. Commerce
As early as 1909 this building was occupied by the Sunset Apartments. Other tenants at the time included a fruit stand, barber shop, and a pool hall. Various rooming houses occupied the upper floor in later years, including the Rose Rooms. 18. Sandfield Dry Goods Store c. 1904 1142 E. Commerce
This building originally housed the Sandfield’s dry goods store and Sandfield House, a small hotel. Lillie Sandfield continued to operate a men’s clothing store here as late as the 1940s. The upstairs continued to be used as a rooming house. In the 1980s this building was home to San Antonio’s only Ethiopian restaurant and a successful jazz club, located in the basement. 19. The Deluxe Hotel c. 1907 1138 E. Commerce
The first occupants of this building were Sid Wells’ Saloon and the Colonial Hotel. Early residents also included A. Alterman and Sons, dry goods, and the Palatine Cooperative Company general merchandise. Storefront businesses included Solomon Frank and Company tailors, shoe stores, loan companies, and bars. In the 1950s and 1960s the building operated as the Deluxe Hotel, with adjacent Deluxe Drug Store, Deluxe Barber Shop, Deluxe Beauty Shop, and Deluxe Dinette Restaurant. Ford, Powell & Carson, lead restoration architect for Sunset Station and other historic projects, occupy this building Heiman Street 20. F. P. Carle and Brothers c. 1909 102-104 Heiman
F. P. Carle and Brothers commission merchants originally occupied the building. The upstairs was occupied by the Carle Flats. Later residents included Ike and Annie Shklar who operated a junk business. In the 1920s it was used as a warehouse for Thomas Goggan and Brothers, a local music company. A gas and steam heating business operated here in later years. 21. White Star Auto Service c. 1915 106 Heiman
The first tenant of this building was the White Star Auto Service company, specializing in car repair service. Later occupants included Bexar Steam Laundry, Brown Express, Inc., and San Antonio Dry Cleaning Company, which provided equipment to commercial cleaners. 22. Oklahoma Hotel c. 1909 117-119 Heiman
The Oklahoma Hotel and S. P. Johnson’s grocery were the original occupants. Various hotels such as the Sunset Hotel, the Albany Hotel and the Marion Hotel were later tenants. 23. Alton Hotel c. 1908 123 Heiman
When constructed, this building housed the Alton Hotel and restaurant. The Derby Café was the major tenant in the 1950s and 1960s. 24. Mission Hotel c. 1905 122 Heiman
Originally constructed for the Mission Hotel and Mission Hotel Bar, this building later became the Imperial Motel and Bar. In later years it was known as the Neill Hotel and Knox Hotel. In the 1970s this building was used as a fish market and restaurant by the Muslims of San Antonio. For several years this building has been the home of the San Antonio Fiesta Commission, the organizing body of San Antonio’s 100 year old Fiesta celebration. Gonzales Street 25. Lone Star Building c. 1909 126 Gonzales
This building was named for the many businesses that operated here, including the Lone Star Rooming House, the Lone Star Grocery and the Lone Star Restaurant. Various cafes operated on the ground floor such as Alex’s Cafe, the Far East Cafe, and Mack’s Cafe. In the 1960s the upper floors were used as the Zumbro Apartments. The building also served as construction offices during the building of the Alamodome. East Commerce Street Overview One of the city's oldest thoroughfares, Commerce Street was
established by the Spanish in the 1700s. It connected the Spanish forts and civilian settlements with Mission San Antonio de Valero, otherwise known as the Alamo. The eastern extension of Commerce was once known as the Alameda and ran to "La Garita," the building constructed by the Spanish to house their gun powder supply, located near present day historic cemeteries. In the early 1800s, the area became known as Powder House Hill; members of German shooting societies would venture down Alameda to conduct their "schuetzenfests". In the 1850s, the City chose Powder House Hill as the site of its new cemetery and the street became the main route for funeral processions. Thus, the streetcar line that ran this route in the late 1800s and early 1900s became known as the "cemetery line." St. Paul Square Area Overview From its earliest settlement, the area was racially mixed with African-Americans, European-Americans and Mexican-Americans establishing commercial and residential roots. The thriving African-American community of the early to mid-1900s attracted many
famous black entertainers, including Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. Their performances served to enhance this
blending of cultures and races as people from every section of the city flocked to St. Paul Square to hear their music. The area continued to flourish through World War II with the Southern Pacific Depot serving as the hub of incoming and
outgoing military personnel. However, a growing red-light district during the 30s and 40s, decreased railway passenger service and shifts in population from urban to suburban areas in the late 50s and early 60s contributed to a steep decline. Eventually St. Paul Square was designated as a target for urban renewal in the 1970s and by 1993 the construction of the Alamodome cemented the area's
economic upswing. With the arrival of the Sunset Station entertainment complex in 1999, the area's future as a unique San Antonio destination was secured. The National Register Southern Pacific Historic District also known as the St. Paul Square area was originally settled in the 1700s as a farming community that supported the Mission San Antonio de Valero, otherwise known as the Alamo.
The area's development progressed slowly through the early nineteenth century, eventually blossoming as a center of trade. Homes were built in the area and lumber yards, building supply outlets, boarding houses and retail shops flourished after the coming of the railway in 1877. Chestnut Street Beacon Light Lodge 1911 220 Chestnut Street
The Beacon Light Lodge No. 50 F. and A.M., an African-American Fraternal Organization, received its original state charter in 1909 and purchased its property at 100 Chestnut Street and Ellis Alley that same year. Records indicate that by 1912, the Lodge had constructed a two-story building on Ellis Alley. The Lodge moved to its Chestnut Street location in 1917 and researchers speculate that the Lodge building did not change buildings, but that the building was simply rotated on the same lot in order to provide a more prominent position following the demolition of an adjacent structure. Businesses that at various times occupied the first floor of the Lodge include Carter and Sutton Mortuary (1918-1922), Sutton Funeral Parlor (1937-1941), Keep-U-Neat Tailors (1924), Dykes Barber Shop and Cole Beauty Parlor (1929) and San Antonio Association for the Blind (1940). Though in later years the first floor was vacant, the Beacon Light Lodge members continued to use the building until 1976. Ellis Alley c. 1900 212-220 Chestnut Street, 215-217 Ellis Alley
These five houses are all that remain of the historic Ellis Alley. During the early 1900s, "alley" communities sprung up throughout many cities in the South. Comprised of shacks, carriage houses and other simple dwellings, these buildings were typically found behind larger homes that faced the main street. Many of these alley buildings were called "shotgun shacks" because of their long, narrow design and cheap construction. Many of these buildings had only an outside wall; to keep the house warm, the inside was lined with newspaper. Most of the Ellis Alley inhabitants were African-Americans who provided services to the railroad, nearby businesses and industries, and residents. Exotic plants and cacti like this giant specimen from Arizona interspersed the landscape. April 7, 1939
John Hermann “Dizzy” Dean comes to San Antonio to lead his Chicago Cubs against the St. Louis Browns in two exhibition baseball games. November 1, 1950
John Wayne arrives in San Antonio at the Southern Pacific Depot for the premiere of Rio Grande, along with actress Maureen O’Hara and director John Ford. July 4, 1942
99 Marine volunteers flash the victory sign before boarding a train to San Diego. February 16, 1930
Former President Calvin Coolidge stopped at the Southern Pacific Depot for 20 minutes. On the train, he discussed the Mt. Rushmore monument with sculptor Gutzon Borglum. February 26, 1907
Fire consumed the roof of the station, collapsing to the floor. Seven months later the station was reopened. A team of eight Tarahumora Indians from Mexico passed through the station in 1928 on their way to the University of Texas Spring track meet. They went on to compete with 900 others from the United States and Mexico. April 22, 1940
King Antonio XXII leads the Fiesta Parade on East Commerce. | 
