Remembering the Old Spanish Trail

Marketing materials for the Old Spanish Trail circa 1924

On the north east border of our neighborhood, lies Fredericksburg Road, which was the major thoroughfare leading northwest from San Antonio in the 1920s. It was literally “the road to Fredericksburg.”

In 1915, a group of business and civic leaders conceived of and planned for a paved automobile road from Florida to California.  This was before the Federal Highway Act of 1956 launched the Interstate Highway System.  These leaders wanted to support automobile tourism and businesses along the route.  In 1929, the Old Spanish Trail (OST) was officially opened, and included portions of current roads as well as new roads and improvements to older trails.  Fredericksburg Road was the road through San Antonio designated as The Old Spanish Trail. This section was dedicated in 1924.

There were a number of monuments built along the OST, many of which no longer exist.  One of these is a major monument at the corner of Fredericksburg Road and Vance Jackson.  This beautiful rock and iron bench still stands today, although unfortunately hidden behind some electric supply boxes.  Here is a picture of the bench from 1936, and a closeup of its dedication plaque.

Old Spanish Trail monument at the corner of Vance Jackson and Fredericksburg Road

Dedication plaque on the OST monument

By the 1960s, when the original Expressway (now I-10) was built, most of the tourists stopped traveling the OST, and many of the businesses along Fredericksburg Road began to decline.  I, for one, am very glad that the traffic from I-10 is not being routed along Fred Road, but it must have been something to see that road during the glory days of The Old Spanish Trail. We are truly lucky to have this major historic artery leading to our neighborhood, and look forward to the upcoming 100thanniversary of our section of the OST in 2024.

For more information about the OST, see www.drivetheost.com