De Leon Plaza Bandstand - Victoria, TX
Posted by: 
jhuoni
N 28° 47.976 W 097° 00.382
14R E 694574 N 3187414
Having relocated several times in this small park, this gazebo now sits on top of one of Victoria's early public water sources.
Waymark Code: WMWR66
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 10/05/2017
Views: 3
The first structure built for musicians to perform was built in the early 1870's as an open-air roofless platform near the corner of Bridge and Constitution.
In 1899, the members of Wagner's Brass Band requested that the stand be rebuilt with a roof and moved to a site on the Constitution Street side just west of the present Confederate Monument. Here it stood until 1923 when the standpipe was dismantled and the building was again moved and placed on the large concrete standpipe foundation where it has stood for 49 years.
In 1962, the bandstand was completely restored by Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Pickering.
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visit link)
The Texas Historical Marker here says:
Originally called "Plaza De la Constitucion" by Martin De Leon, the founder of Victoria, this square was included as part of an early 1830s survey of Victoria by Jose M. Carbajal, son-in-law of De Leon. Carbajal's survey expanded on the founder's basic design for the city, which followed the style of traditional Spanish municipalities.
A water well lined with brick was placed in the center of the square in 1850. By 1872 a windmill stood over the well; twelve years later it was replaced by a standpipe. Other improvements included a bandstand in the 1870s, hitching racks in 1897; a Confederate memorial statue, "Last Stand" by Pompeo Coppini, dedicated in 1912; and lamp standards in 1923. In that year the standpipe was removed and the bandstand was relocated to the center of the plaza. Sidewalks were added by the Public Works Administration in the 1930s. Through the efforts of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the site was renamed De Leon Plaza as part of a plaza beautification project in 1941.
As a gathering place, summer concert arena, exposition site, and town center, De Leon Plaza continues to serve the people of Victoria as it has for generations. The plaza stands as a reminder of the rich heritage of the city and its founder. (1998)
In the center of the floor is a metal octogon with the Six Flags of Texas and the words: "City of Victoria Texas año 1824".