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

Significance: This building was the first Academy building erected by the Ursulines after their arrival in San Antonio in 1851. It is the largest known building in Texas constructed of "rammed earth" or pise de terre and one of the few known true pise buildings in the state and possibly the United States. Whether the building may be considered a work of "French" architecture is conjectural. It was erected by a French Bishop for French Ursulines by a French architect and builder and in a French method of construction. Its plainness of style, however, makes it difficult to assess this building as showing significant Old World influences.
Survey number: HABS TX-32-A