King William Historic District

Frommer's Review

San Antonio's first suburb, King William was settled in the late 19th century by prosperous German merchants who displayed their wealth through extravagant homes and named the 25-block area after Kaiser Wilhelm of Prussia. (The other residents of San Antonio were rather less complimentary about this German area, which they dubbed "Sauerkraut Bend.")

The neighborhood fell into disrepair for a few decades, but you'd never know it from the pristine condition of most of the houses here today. The area has gotten so popular that tour buses have been restricted after certain hours. Anyway, if the weather's agreeable, it's much more pleasant to be on foot here than in a tour bus. You can stroll down tree-shaded King William Street and admire the old houses and their beautifully landscaped yards. Stop at the headquarters of the San Antonio Conservation Society, 107 King William St. (tel. 210/224-6163; www.saconservation.org), and pick up a self-guided walking tour booklet outside the gate. If you go at a leisurely pace, the stroll should take about an hour. Only the Steves Homestead Museum and the Guenther House are open to the public; figure 2 more hours if you plan to visit both.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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