A neighborhood with a story

Just north of downtown San Antonio, Monte Vista took shape during the city’s growth between 1890 and 1930. Its homes reflect the ambitions and tastes of that era, when business and civic leaders helped establish a new residential neighborhood.

Today, the district spans about 100 city blocks. Monte Vista became a local historic district in 1975 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. Its preservation is part of what makes a visit here feel connected to an earlier San Antonio. Read more from the Monte Vista Historical Association.

Look closely as you explore

There is no single Monte Vista style. The neighborhood brings together Victorian, Georgian and Renaissance Revival, Mediterranean, Neo-Spanish, and Art Deco influences. The Texas Historical Commission’s district marker notes the work of architects including J. Riely Gordon and Atlee B. Ayres.

That variety rewards a leisurely look: different rooflines, decorative details, and welcoming entrances tell the story of a neighborhood built over several decades. Please enjoy the streets respectfully; many of these historic buildings remain private homes. Explore the district’s historical marker.

Our home at 137 E Woodlawn

URBANherbal welcomes visitors at 137 E Woodlawn Avenue. The watercolor above celebrates the house, its porch, and its garden—a fitting setting for Bill’s love of herbs and everyday botanical pleasures.

The home at 137 E Woodlawn was originally built in 1914, placing the house within Monte Vista’s principal period of development. Before becoming the site of URBANherbal today, the property belonged to a doctor, and the current URBANherbal shop was his doctor’s offices.

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