Main Plaza (San Antonio)
Main Plaza (Plaza de las Islas) was the site of the first authorized Texas city when it was established as the market square for the Canary Island fundadores of San Antonio March 9, 1731. These early settlers built small, primitive jacal, palisado, or caliche block residences around the square, with their village church and the Casas Reales (now 114 E. Main Plaza), their seat of government, as their focal points. The village church was eventually incorporated as the sanctuary of the Gothic Revival San Fernando Cathedral.
Once the center of San Antonio’s civic, commercial and social life, the size and importance of the plaza diminished as a result of early 20th century road projects. However, the original scale of the plaza was re-created in 2007. Pavers in the renovated Plaza tell some of the stories of the many historic events that transpired there.
Main Plaza is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.