Anton Wulff House, San Antonio

The Anton Wulff House, located on King William Street in San Antonio, stands as a testament to the city’s rich history and cultural evolution. Constructed between 1869 and 1870, the multi-story Italianate limestone residence was commissioned by German immigrant and influential San Antonio figure, Anton Friedrich Wulff. This historic landmark is situated within the King William Historic District and has been designated both a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark and a contributing structure on the National Register of Historic Places in Bexar County.

Anton Wulff, a native of Hamburg, Germany, immigrated to Texas in 1848. A visionary businessman, Wulff played a pivotal role in San Antonio's development, serving as the city’s first park commissioner and as an alderman. Notably, he designed the layout of Alamo Plaza, beautifying the space with his passion for horticulture and often funding improvements himself. His civic contributions earned him a gold-topped walking cane from the city’s business leaders as a token of appreciation.

The Wulff House, once part of Pedro Huizar's land at the San Antonio de Valero Mission, was a picturesque estate by the San Antonio River. Flooding in 1921 prompted the river's re-routing in 1926, altering the property's surroundings. After changing hands multiple times—serving as apartments in 1950 and later owned by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters—it gained historical zoning in 1968. The San Antonio Conservation Society purchased it in 1974, using it as their headquarters until 2022. The nearby Pedro Huizar Garden honors the area's history.

Today, the Anton Wulff House is celebrated not only for its architectural beauty but also for its association with a man who shaped much of San Antonio's civic and cultural landscape. Its storied past, from Wulff’s resilience during the Civil War to its role as a preservationist headquarters, makes it a cornerstone of San Antonio’s heritage.