Picture Spanish soldiers drilling on this old parade ground of Presidio San Antonio de Béxar. When Governor Martín de Alarcón founded the settlement in 1718, this open square — known as Plaza de Armas — was designed as the military parade ground for the Presidio San Antonio de Béxar. Spanish soldiers drilled here, cannon were positioned to defend the settlement, and the rhythms of military life set the pace for the entire colony.
After Texas independence and the Mexican-American War, the plaza evolved into something more colorful and democratic. By the 1860s and 1870s, it had become famous across the Southwest for its 'chili queens' — women, mostly Mexican and Tejano, who set up open-air stands after dark and sold bowls of chili con carne, tamales, and enchiladas by firelight and lantern. Travelers, soldiers, and writers from across the country described the chili queens in admiring terms, and their food became a defining symbol of San Antonio's identity.
In 1890, City Hall was built on this very plaza, formalizing what had always been true: this is where power, commerce, and community converge in San Antonio.