Bexar Co., TX:  San Fernando Cemetery #1 HISTORY

This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives 
by: Cherise Bell     <cbell@sanantonio.gov>
Upload date: 2/12/2005

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From "Cherise Bell" <cbell@sanantonio.gov>
San Fernando Cemetery #1

The City Cemetery and Catholic Cemetery were located at today’s Milam
Park and Santa Rosa Hospital, respectively.  In the 1850s, City Council
announced that all bodies would be removed and moved to a new cemetery.
In reality, based on excavation work in both Milam park and Santa Rosa
Hospital, either the bodies were not moved at all or many were left
behind, as many human remains have been found, including Ben Milam.  An
estimated 3,000 persons were buried from 1808 to 1860.
The Archdiocese of San Antonio owns and operates  San Fernando #1.   The
name San Fernando Cemetery was originally applied to the cemetery
located within the walls of the Alamo, the area where the post office
building is located.  During excavation for the post office human
remains were found and many believe these to be the remains of the Alamo
heroes.  Also buried are 37 unidentified victims of the 1921 flood, all
identified as “Mexican-American”.
For many years, San Fernando #1 was the exclusive burial ground for all
Catholics who resided in San Antonio. However, the need for a new
cemetery lead to the purchase of 91.25 acres in 1919 and the creation of
San Fernando Cemetery #2.  The first burial occurred at #2 in 1922.
San Fernando #1 is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places
for two main reasons, the predominance of buried men who were key in the
development of the country of Texas and the growth of San Antonio and
the  relocation in the 1850s reflecting the city’s changing needs to
accommodate growth and development