Ursuline Academy, 300 Augusta Street, San Antonio, Bexar County, TX

Significance: The Ursuline community in San Antonio was the second Ursuline community established in the State of Texas. Introduction of this community in 1851 was a signal achievement for the Reverend John Mary Odin, C. M., later the first Roman Catholic Bishop of Texas, in his struggle to reawaken dormant Catholicism in the State. Shortly after their arrival, the Ursuline Sisters opened their school, believed to be the first in San Antonio and the second in Texas established soley for the education of the young girls. All of the major Academy buildings erected during the nineteenth century survive today to form an architectural complex unique to this State. These buildings range from the first Academy building erected in 1851, in plain style but with handsome proportions, to the Priest's house erected in 1882, one of the best examples in Texas of the late Gothic Revival style of architecture. The Academy Building is known for a wall construction called pise de terre, or rammed earth.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-181
Survey number: HABS TX-32
Building/structure dates: ca. 18h1 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1866 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1867 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1870 Subsequent Work