places of interest
San Fernando Cathedral
115 Main Plaza,
San Antonio
San Fernando Cathedral in downtown San Antonio is the oldest continuously functioning religious community in Texas, founded in 1731 by 16 Canary Island families who were also the first organized civilian colonists of San Antonio. These settlers established the first civil government in Texas and played a foundational role in the city’s early development. The cathedral is notable for its historic architecture, a marble sarcophagus honoring Alamo defenders
St Augustine Cemetery
It is located 4 miles north of Pleasanton, east of U.S. Hwy 281 on Esparza Road.
Burial Dates:
1886-present
Other Names:
San Augustine Catholic, San Augustine #1, St. Augustine, Martinez
Between 1850 and 1860, Manuel, Enrique, and Francisco Esparza brought their families to settle in what is now Atascosa County. The brothers, along with their sister and mother, were within the walls of the Alamo when it fell to the Mexicans in March 1836. Their father, Gregorio, died in that battle.
The Esparza brothers farmed and ranched the open land near this site. Almost immediately after arriving, Enrique and Manuel constructed a small chapel for family worship. In 1869, Enrique and his wife, Gertrudes, donated five acres of their land to the Roman Catholic Church. About the same time, the Esparzas constructed a larger church building of native stone. The small mission church was named San Augustine.
A storm damaged the church building in 1940 and services were discontinued, although San Augustine was not formally closed until 1942. By the late 1960s, only three exterior rock walls remained, and these were later razed.
Many settlements in Texas sprang from the activities of mission churches such as San Augustine that were located at river crossings or ranch headquarters. Although many have disappeared or Paid Advertisement
have been forgotten, they are an important part of the state's heritage.
Rodriguez Esparza Cemetary
261 Esparza Road, Pleasanton, Texas 78064, United States
In Pleasanton, Texas, a quiet family cemetery preserves the legacy of the Gregorio's descendants. Buried there are members of his immediate family, including Anna (his wife), and their son Manuel, who carried on the family’s life after the tragedy at the Alamo. This family grave site represents more than a place of rest—it reflects survival, continuity, and resilience. Today, the Pleasanton cemetery stands as a deeply personal counterpoint to the Alamo itself—a place where the story of loss is matched by one of legacy, carried forward by those who lived on.
El Carmen Cemetery
18555 Leal Rd, San Antonio, TX 78221
Historical accounts trace the origin of Cementerio Del Carmen, or El Carmen Cemetery, to the burial of casualties of the Battle of Medina which was fought on August 1813. It became a community cemetery as pioneer settlers established homes in this area.
Alamo survivor Enrique Esparza buried here.
The last eye witness to the battle of the Alamo. At age eight, Enrique witnessed one of the bloodiest battles in history. His father, Gregorio Esparza, was killed in the fighting on that day, March 6, 1836. Enrique died in San Antonio, Texas of natural causes at age 89.
Milam Park - Gregorio Esparza memorial plaque
199 N Santa Rosa St, San Antonio
Gregorio is uniquely connected to both the mission’s sacred grounds and the city’s later public memorial landscape. While the Alamo’s original cemetery was part of the mission complex itself—closely tied to the church—San Antonio’s growth beyond the old fort walls led to the establishment of Campo Santo at Milam Park as the city’s first major public cemetery. Today, Esparza is honored there: his name is listed on the Campo Santo memorial wall, as well as his own memorial plaque which marks this enduring place in San Antonio’s layered history of remembrance.
The Alamo
Gregorio was one of the few Tejano defenders who fought and died during the Battle of the Alamo. A resident of San Antonio, Esparza stood alongside Texian forces in defense of the mission against the Mexican Army during the 13-day siege from February 23 to March 6, 1836 with his wife, 3 sons and a stepdaughter.
What makes Gregorio Esparza’s story especially significant is both his role and what happened after the battle. While most of the fallen defenders were burned in funeral pyres, Esparza was granted a proper burial by Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna at the request of his brother, who served in the Mexican army. This makes him the only known Alamo defender to receive a Christian burial.
Longhorn Museum
1959 E State Hwy 97 Pleasanton
The legacy of San Augustine Church, built by the family of Gregorio Esparza, lives on beyond its original site. After Gregorio’s death at the Alamo in 1836, his sons established the church in Atascosa County as both a place of worship and a symbol of their family’s resilience.
Although the church itself was eventually lost after storm damage in the 1940s, pieces of it were preserved. Artifacts from the church—including its bell—are now housed at the Longhorn Museum, offering a tangible connection to the Esparza family’s history. These preserved elements stand as lasting reminders of how Gregorio Esparza’s legacy continued through his children, shaping both faith and community in early Texas.
Esparza Elementary
5700 Hemphill Dr. San Antonio
Esparza Elementary was established in 1970 as part of Northside ISD’s expansion, later named to honor the legacy of the Esparza family—connecting a modern school community to one of the most historic Tejano families in Texas.
Siege of Bexar - Historical Marker, House of Cos, Priest's House
On NE corner of Main Plaza, Kallison Walk
136 E Main Plaza,
San Antonio
Gregorio Esparza fought in the Siege of Béxar (December 5–9, 1835), the first major engagement of the Texas Revolution. After a six-week standoff, Texian forces launched a dawn assault on December 5, advancing into the fortified town of Béxar along Acequia (now Main) and Soledad streets. The attacking force—about 300 volunteers under Colonels Frank W. Johnson and Benjamin R. Milam—faced roughly 1,200 Mexican troops commanded by General Martín Perfecto de Cos.
As a Tejano familiar with the city, Esparza was among those connected to the local knowledge that proved critical in navigating the narrow streets and strong defenses. Fierce house-to-house fighting followed, culminating on December 8 with the capture of the “priest’s house,” a key position overlooking Main Plaza. Under sustained gunfire, Mexican forces withdrew to the Alamo and, the next day, raised a white flag in surrender—bringing the siege to an end.