Casa Navarro State Historic Site - San Antonio, TX Review

I had a chance on June 27, 2009 to visit the Casa Navarro State Historic Site museum while they were sponsoring local artists between noon to 4pm.  I was surprised to find this jewel right in the middle of downtown San Antonio.  The artists from the San Antonio Art Meetup group painted live with a theme at the event while a fun blues/rock band Bekka Blue played.  The museum was free to tour during this event and is schduling more of these art events through December.  It was fun and laid back in their shady court yard.

A little history about the Casa Navarro:

he Casa Navarro State Historic Site is the half-acre site  restored home of Tejano patriot José Antonio Navarro (1795–1871). Today, visitors can tour Navarro's adobe home furnished with period antiques, read copies of his writing, and discuss questions of history with informed interpreters.

The original house complex consisted of three limestone, caliche block, and adobe structures, built about 1848. Casa Navarro is the only historic site in San Antonio dedicated to the interpretation of the Mexican history and heritage of Texas, as seen through the life of Navarro, a prominent San Antonio merchant, rancher and statesman.

Navarro served as a member of the Texas legislatures under Mexico, the Republic of Texas and the State of Texas. Representing San Antonio Tejanos, he signed the Texas Declaration of Independence in 1836. Navarro was the first Tejano to write about the history of Texas. He was an influential political figure during the momentous 55 years when the destiny of Texas was forged, from 1810 to 1865. Navarro is best known as "the strongest defender of the rights of his people."