Steves Homestead {house museum}
The following sites and structures were acquired by the San Antonio Conservation Society for purposes of preservation. They have been restored and deeded to other organizations.
Prominent San Antonio architect James Riely Gordon built the Stevens building for John James Stevens in 1891. The land at the East Commerce Street site belonged to Stevens’ wife, Bettie Thornton Stevens. Three years later, Gordon completed the adjacent Staacke Building. Stevens served as postmaster of San Antonio and played a prominent role in civic affairs. He was a charter member of the University Club, which had its headquarters and clubrooms in the Stevens Building.
This three-story building is constructed of brick with granite detailing. Architectural elements from a variety of styles, including Romanesque and Queen Anne, give the building a flamboyant quality. The oriel windows are restorations based on historic photographs.
The San Antonio Conservation Society purchased the Stevens Building in 1979 to save it from demolition. The Society later sold the building to a group of local investors in May, 1982. Along with the Staacke Building, the Stevens Building has been restored for adaptive use as retail and office space.