San Antonio's Historic Market Square

San Antonio was founded in 1718. By 1730, the viceroy of New Spain had issued orders to map plazas, squares, and parks for the Canary Islanders who would be arriving in 1731. The plazas with their markets became the centers for business and entertainment. The first square was Plaza de Armas (Military Plaza); when the islanders arrived, they marked off the Plaza de las Islas (Main Plaza). Before the Civil War, Alamo Plaza was the center of commerce. As San Antonio grew, the markets needed to...