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Sunset; the Grand Opera House, over which is the San Antonio Club, one of the most
exclusive social clubs in the city; and the general offices of the S. A. & A. P. Just after
passing the plaza park, to the right can be seen the Alamo and the Mission San Antonio
de Valero.
THE FEDERAL BUILDING is at the northern end of this plaza. Its handsome
Moorish architecture is especially striking and in keeping with the history of its sur-
roundings. Its arcades are duplicates of those which once adorned the Mission San An-
tonio de Valero, the building standing on the old burial ground of that mission, wherein
were interred for nearly two hundred years the remains of the priests and nuns who
were stationed at the Alamo and at San Antonio de Valero. When the ground was ex-
cavated for the foundations of the Federal building, the remains of many bodies were
removed.
The one story structure on the corner of Houston Street and Alamo Plaza just
west of the Federal Building is erected on a foundation of a most unique character. In-
stead of using bricks to support the corners of this building the old brass cannons which
did such valiant service in the defense of the Alamo were sunk in the ground for that
purpose, four cannons at each corner. When this building is torn down these relics will
be moved and will probably command a fancy price, as there is no quesion whatever
as to their genuineness.
HOUSTON STREET, Along its entire length, was at one time but a straggling
cattle trail, along which a number of small buildings sprung up. At the corner of Hous-
ton and St. Mary Streets is the Mahncke Hotel, in the rear of which is the original site
of Fort Sam Houston. The old barracks are still standing, being now in use as a livery
stable. The hotel itself was utilized for officers' quarters. General Robert E. Lee and
General Albert Sidney Johnston were both, previous to the Civil War, in command of