Ursuline Academy, building in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
Ursuline Academy is a building complex in San Antonio founded in 1851 featuring Gothic Revival architecture with pointed arches and decorative stonework throughout. The original two-story structure was later expanded with additional limestone buildings added during the 1800s, all sharing similar architectural details and design elements.
The academy was established in 1851 by seven Ursuline sisters from New Orleans and Galveston who opened it as a school for girls in San Antonio. The original building used rammed earth construction and the school operated for more than 140 years until its closure in 1992.
The Ursuline Academy served as a school and refuge for San Antonio's community over many generations. The sisters provided shelter during the Mexican Revolution, fed many people during the Great Depression, and cared for children while mothers worked during World War II.
The campus is located on Augusta Street in downtown San Antonio and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can explore the restored buildings, with some portions used by the Southwest School of Art and Craft for classes and exhibitions.
The original building was constructed using the rare pisé de terre technique, a rammed earth method now considered the oldest surviving example of this construction type in Texas. This traditional building method kept the walls cool in hot Texas heat and demonstrates the skilled craftsmanship of 19th-century builders.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
