Walking Tour of San Marcos - Historic Guadalupe Street

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1. Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos

Located in a building that was once known as "the Mexican School," Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos offers classes that preserve and share Hispanic heritage and operate a small museum, library, and art gallery. Since its opening in 2010, the organization has worked to support art, dance, music, and other cultural programs. The center is open to the public each afternoon and offers exhibits that preserve and share Hispanic culture and heritage.

2. Cheatham Street Warehouse

Cheatham Street Warehouse is a bar and music venue in San Marcos, Texas known to be George Strait's stomping grounds and where he first made his debut. Cheatham Street Warehouse opened in June 1974 and has been popular ever since. The Warehouse was popular with local college students for its unique mix of traditional country, rock, folk, and blues. It continues to be a popular spot today.

3. Wesley Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church

This historic church was built in 1963 for a congregation that dates back to 1874. The congregation met in a variety of buildings between the 1870s and the completion of this structure and also operated a school for the city's growing African American population in the era of Reconstruction. The first school for African Americans in San Marcos was established in 1868 by the Freedman's Bureau, a federal program aimed at assisting former slaves and other Southerners in the wake of the Civil War. The city offered no financial support to the Freedman's School or any other school for African Americans until 1877 when the school district established a public school for fifty African American students.

4. Ulysses Cephas House

Ulysses Cephas was a Blacksmith and leader within the African American community in the Dunbar neighborhood of San Marcos. This neighborhood was home to many influential residents, including composer Eddie Durham who pioneered many of the elements of jazz and swing music from the 1930s to the 1950s. In response from residents of this neighborhood, who expressed concerns about the loss of many of the original and historic properties in this neighborhood, the city of San Marcos purchased the home with funds from the Community Development Block Grant and began efforts to restore the home.

5. Calaboose African American History Museum

Built in 1873, this former jail is now the home of the Calaboose African American History Museum. The historic structure was the first jail in Hays County and later served a variety of different purposes throughout the years. The museum offers a variety of exhibits with artifacts that preserve and share the history of African Americans in central Texas. The museum was established in 1992 by Joanie Armstead. Highlights of the museum include memorabilia from Eddie Durham, a local jazz musician In recognition of Joanie Armstead's work; the museum was recently designated an official Texas Historic Landmark.

6. Hays County Courthouse

This historic courthouse located in San Marcos was built in the Classical Revival style and completed in 1908. The building is recognized by both the National Register of Historic Places and Texas Historical Commission.

7. Lyndon Baines Johnson Museum of San Marcos

This museum preserves and interprets the formative years of Lyndon Johnson, a student in San Marcos and teacher in southern Texas who became the 36th President of the United States. Johnson was a student at Southwest Texas State Teachers College between 1927 and 1930 and it was here that he returned in 1964 as President to announce the creation of the Job Corps program. Like many teachers colleges, the institution has developed into a comprehensive regional university and is now known as Texas State University. The museum opened in 2006 and expanded in 2010 to include two floors of exhibits. In addition to exhibits about Johnson's years in San Marcos, there are exhibits dedicated to his efforts to promote civil rights and education in the Senate and as President.

8. Old State Bank

One of the most iconic and historic buildings in San Marcos, the "Old State Bank" building was constructed in 1891. The Newton Gang robbed the bank in 1924, a heist that included setting dynamite charges around the vault. The bank was also used for the 1970 Hollywood movie "The Getaway," starring Steve McQueen and Ali McGraw. The building now holds a themed restaurant on the first floor that incorporates the old vault and teller cages. The second story is home to loft apartments.

9. Former Fire Station and City Hall

Constructed in 1915, this historic building was home to both the city government and the fire department. The city still operated a volunteer department at the time, and continued to do so until the 1950s. The building is now owned by Texas State University.

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

Walking Tour of San Marcos - Historic Guadalupe Street

Created by William Bauer on September 7th 2018, 4:44:37 pm.

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Description

This walking tour starts near the historic Hays County Courthouse and moves south along Guadalupe Street. Highlights of the tour include the former city hall, Lyndon Baines Johnson Museum, the Old State Bank Building, and several sites, cultural centers, and museums that share the history of San Marcos and its diverse peoples. The tour only includes stops near Guadalupe Street but visitors to the city should also check out the nearby Charles S. Cock House and Dick's Classic Car Museum.

Entries on This Tour

Walking Tour of San Marcos - Historic Guadalupe Street

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