San Antonio Japanese Tea Garden
The San Antonio Japanese Tea Garden, or Sunken Gardens, in Texas, originated from land donated by George W. Brackenridge in 1899. Initially a limestone quarry for local construction, including the Menger Hotel, it was transformed into a cement production site by the Alamo Cement Company in 1880. In the early 20th century, City Parks Commissioner Ray Lambert envisioned an oriental garden in the quarry. With donations and prison labor, the garden was crafted with walkways, stone bridges, and a Japanese pagoda by 1918.
Mexican-born artist Dionicio Rodriguez crafted a Japanese Torii gate at the entrance in 1919. Kimi Eizo Jingu, a Japanese-American artist, moved there in 1919, opening the Bamboo Room to serve tea. Despite the Jingus’ contribution to the garden, they were evicted during WWII, and the garden was renamed the Chinese Tea Garden to avoid vandalism. It wasn’t until 1984 that Mayor Henry Cisneros restored its original name, with a ceremony honoring the Jingu family and Japanese ties.
