SAN ANTONIO — If you blink, you'll miss this Texas historical site.
Casa Navarro, an 1800s adobe-style home nestled between downtown buildings and construction, has survived San Antonio's evolution.
"Luckily Casa Navarro received historical designations that prevent the demolition of this site, unlike the rest of the 'Laredito neighborhood,'" said Kristin Rodriguez, site manager for the property. "It was originally saved by the San Antonio Conservation Society when it was threatened to be torn down."
Eventually ownership would be transferred into the hands of Texas Parks and Wildlife before coming to the Texas Historical Commission.
But Casa Navarro's history, and the history of its owner, merchant and Texas patriot Jose Antonio Navarro, are what make this historical site so special.
"He was a representative of San Antonio de Bexar for much of his life. He would then later be a representative in the Texas Republic and in the United States. Making efforts, of course, to represent the San Antonio citizens throughout that changing history," Rodriguez said.
One of two Tejanos to sign the Texas Declaration of Independence, Navarro fought with his pen in this landscape that was rapidly changing.
"One of his main efforts was to ensure that Tejano people had the right to vote when becoming part of the Texas Republic and later the United States," Rodriguez said.
His writings helped others understand the unique perspective of Tejanos during this time in history.
"He wrote about the battle of Medina and he wrote about what was happening after the Alamo," Rodriguez said. "These all coming from the Tejano perspective. Much of the evidence that we have is not from that perspective, so it's very unique in its own right."
This written history has survived, thanks to the efforts of Navarro's descendants, including Sandy Salinas. She's a founding member of the Friends of Casa Navarro.
"We were little girls, and my grandmother would bring us," Salinas said. "She said this is the home of her great-grandfather."
"I can still remember my grandmother was so proud that she was a Navarro and that's in my heart. I do get emotional because it brings back so many memories," she added.
Sandy Salinas and her son, Troy, are members of the Friends of Navarro group, which has dedicated itself not only to keeping Navarro's name alive, but also to ensuring he is not merely a byline in history books.
"[You] see the exhibits that are designed to bring those children, the fourth graders and the seventh graders that are studying Texas history, to bring them to the house to learn about the Tejano portion of it, the Hispanic influence that is very much a part of Texas history and Texas heritage," said Troy Salinas, a seventh-generation descendant. "But for many years [that history] was lost in the textbooks through the different reiterations."
"The little-known unique perspectives really give you a different sight on the larger story and that's what we provide here," Rodriguez added. "Unfortunately, Jose Antonio Navarro isn't a household name. When people come here, we always get comments on how they learned so much and they didn't read these things anywhere else and that's what we want to hear. That's like the whole point."
"That's [why] we just got to be out there more, telling those stories educating people about the beauty of the house and the history of Navarro and all those people that fought for what we live today in Texas," Troy Salinas added.