Chinese Sunken Garden Gate - San Antonio, TX
Posted by: Groundspeak Regular Member WalksfarTX
N 29° 27.644 W 098° 28.631
14R E 550694 N 3259145
Also known as the Japanese Sunken Garden Gate
Waymark Code: WM11P5Q
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 11/24/2019
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member Outspoken1
Views: 6

NRHP Nomination Form

"The entrance portal to the Chinese Tea Garden (now known as the Japanese Sunken Garden) sited off St. Mary's Street in Brackenridge Park was a collaboration by Maximo Cortes and Dionicio Rodriguez, although Rodriguez's signature, "Made by D. Rodrgiuez" is carved into the front left handrail. Four sturdy vertical "tree trunks" with "branches" as brackets support lentils and a palapa-style roof, with four upturned corners , reminiscent of a Torii gate. A second, smaller palapa roof, also with the curved detail is built on top of the main roof, and third, smaller roof of the same design caps it. At strategic joints, "wooden wedges" are inserted.

Two front lentils bear the inscription "Entrance Chinese Tea Garden." The vertical supporting "logs" and attached curved horizontal handrails (on both front and rear) have "worm holes," crevices, patches of "lichen" and exaggerated "knot holes." At critical points, Rodriguez inserted his "pyramid headed bolts." Relief sculpted Chinese calligraphy adorns the right-hand post, and the reverse side of the largest lentil. A translation of the writing is "China Garden." The colors, mainly rich tans and yellows remain very strong, in comparison to other pieces in the San Antonio area. The gate opening measures 7'3" wide and its height is 6'5" tall. The overall height of the entrance gate is 16'3", and the width (including the handrails) isl4'3". The gate is in good condition."

Street address:
400 N. St. Mary's St.
San Antonio, TX USA


County / Borough / Parish: Bexar County

Year listed: 2004

Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture/Engineering

Periods of significance: 1925-1949

Historic function: Recreation And Culture

Current function: Recreation And Culture

Privately owned?: no

Primary Web Site: [Web Link]

Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]

Season start / Season finish: Not listed

Hours of operation: Not listed

Secondary Website 2: Not listed

National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.
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