#7, Casa Navarro

 February 13, 2024

Leaving St Mary’s and the Riverwalk area, I made my way out of the older downtown area.  After my gps sent me down a few wrong roads, I asked a guy standing by a little information cart for advice.  There was a huge construction project going on near him, where they are revitalizing the area around San Pedro Creek.  One section had been made into a parklike area with walking paths surrounding the stream.  He advised me to take this route and avoid the area under construction. 

I did, and along the way I noticed these "Emergency" posts with call buttons, cameras and blue lights.  What a great idea for walking in a somewhat remote area within the city.

When I came out on the other side, I was close to Casa Navarro.  Right behind it was a huge crane.  What an interesting juxtaposition.  And again, that crazy blue sky.  I was so blessed with good weather here.  Not a cloud, and a perfect 65-70 degrees during the day.

Born in 1795 in San Antonio, Antonio Navarro was an important figure in Texas history.  Through his 76 years he was a politician, a family man, a rancher, and a merchant.  He was one of only two native-born Texans to sign the Texas Declaration of Independence.  He championed the rights of the Tejano, including the right to vote.

In 1831 Navarro purchased an acre and a half piece of property with a one room adobe home on it, on the corner of Laredo and Nueva Streets.  In the years following he added on to the home and constructed other buildings on the property.

The museum displays were hands-on and informative.  Not only about Navarro and his accomplishments, but about life in that period.

A couple things in the kitchen stood out to me.  The wooden tortilla press seemed like a rather large kitchen gadget, but I guess since they didn't also have toaster ovens, crock pots, instant pots and so on, they probably had room.  And of course tortillas were pretty important.  Also, there is the reference to the chocolateras and molinillo, a special cup and wooden stirrer for making hot cocoa, yet no mention was made of a coffee pot.  I love hot chocolate, so I thought that was pretty neat. 

It seems that Navarro was a prolific writer, and his letters have been saved and preserved.  There are several displays utilizing video or slides, with his writings narrated into them, that add much to the story of his life. His original writings are available under glass, in desk drawers in his study.

In Williamsburg, VA I learned about brickmaking.  Here at Casa Navarra, I learned how adobe was made.  The components of the adobe brought to mind the Israelites making bricks, as I recall they used straw in them.

Walls made of adobe are very thick.  Even though it was quite warm outside, the thick walls kept it nice and cool inside.  

Antonio Navarro and his wife, Margarita de la Garza, had seven children.  Many of their descendants are still in the area.  One of their daughters inherited the property but now it is a state historic site.  This well preserved museum is a treasure, especially considering it is still in its original location, yet surrounded by a busy city.