San Antonio: King William National Historic District

Street corner with stop sign and street sign saying King William
Two storey buildings on either side of a walkway with trees and a water fountain

German Free School

Building with sign saying Beethoven Maennerchor

Headquarters of the German Maennerchor in the King William District

Portrait of John August Tubbe and Mary Kolb

John August Tubbe –German Texan accused of espionage - and wife Mary Kolb

School children posing for a picture with a large American flag behind them

Early Texas German settlers in the King William District (San Antonio Conservation Society)

Two storey bulding with a small cottage in front

The German English School (San Antonio Conservation Society)

Group of men with rifles and a banner saying San Antonio Schutzen Verein

German Texan Shooting Society (San Antonio Conservation Society)

Poster saying Don’t Talk the web is spun for you with invisible threads. Keep out of it. Help to destroy it. Stop – Think. Ask yourself if what you were about to say might help the enemy. Spies are Listening

Anti-German propaganda poster produced following the passage of the Sedition Act (Library of Congress)

King William Historic District is one of the most scenic – and historic – neighborhoods in San Antonio.

German immigrants settled in San Antonio in the mid-19th century, many living in the King William District.

As tensions between the United States and Germany increased during the build up to WWI, German Texans fell under the suspicions of Americans. The German language and other elements of German Texan culture were suppressed.

Today, the King William Historic District embraces its German heritage, which visitors may explore at sites such as the German English School, the Beethoven Maennerchor, and the Hermann Sons Ballroom.   

King William Historic District

  • South of downtown and bounded by Durango, South St. Mary’s, Eagleland and the San Antonio River, San Antonio, TX
  • 210-227-8786
  • Visit Website
  • National Register of Historic Places
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