Johann and Anna Heidgen House

The Johann and Anna Heidgen House is a residential building on Starr Street in San Antonio featuring thick limestone walls and a gabled roof with covered porches extending around the structure. The house maintains its original stone construction while now serving as office space in the downtown area.

The house was built in 1882 by Johann Heidgen, a German immigrant and stonemason, as a residence for his large family in the area near the Alamo. His construction methods and use of local materials contributed to the building traditions developing in San Antonio during this period.

The building shows how German families built their homes using methods from Europe while adapting to Texas materials and techniques, creating a visible blend of immigrant traditions with local practices.

The building is located near downtown San Antonio and is easily accessible on foot, though it currently functions as a private office building. Visitors should note that this is an active business space and viewing is limited to the exterior of the structure.

One exterior wall of the house sits directly against the Acequia Madre de Valero, a historic irrigation system developed in the 18th century by Spanish Franciscan priests and Payaya people. This direct connection reveals how later immigrant structures incorporated the infrastructure that had already shaped the region for generations.