Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
Marker Inscription
The heritage of this Catholic University reflects the early educational efforts of Jean Martin Moye, an 18th-century French educator, and American Bishops at the 1866 council of Baltimore. In order to carry out the council's mandates, Bishop Dubuis of Texas that same year recruited sisters from the congregation of Divine Providence, in the Lorraine village of St. Jean De Bassel, to come to Texas. In 1895, after years of work in Austin and Castroville, Mother Florence Walter relocated the congregation to San Antonio. A sixteen-acre site on the edge of Lake Elmendorf, in th city's early lake view addition, was chosen for the establishment of a Girl's Academy. The school opened in 1896, with offering from kindergarten through high school. Classes were first held in a four-story brick building. Adjacent land and new structures were added as the school grew. College course were first offered in 1911. Eight years later, the school obtained the status of a senior college. Form a foundation of progressive Eruopean Educational pholosophy, our Lady of the Lake Univeristy has developed as one of Texas' leading institutions of higher learning.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
This San Antonio university traces its roots to French Catholic teaching sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence, recruited to Texas in 1866 from a village in Lorraine to answer a call for frontier education. After years of work in Austin and Castroville, Mother Florence Walter moved the sisters to a lakeside site in 1895, opening a girls' academy the next year that grew from kindergarten through college. From those immigrant beginnings it matured into one of Texas's leading institutions of higher learning.
Why it matters
It shows how immigrant religious women built enduring schools on the Texas frontier, carrying European educational traditions into the making of American higher education.
Plan your visit
NearbyMake a day of it — museums, food, and places to stay near this marker.
Museums & culture
- Centro de Artes2.7 mi away
- Spanish Governor's Palace2.9 mi away
- Artpace3.0 mi away · 445 North Main Avenue, San Antonio, TX
- Steves Homestead Museum3.0 mi away
- Villa Finale3.1 mi away
- Cactus Bra Gallery3.1 mi away
Attractions
- Air Castles2.1 mi away
- Casa Navarro State Historical Site2.8 mi away
- Terror Mansion2.9 mi away
- Scobee Planetarium3.1 mi away
- River boat boarding3.2 mi away
- La Villita3.3 mi away
Food & drink
- Texas de Brazil3.3 mi away · 313 East Houston Street, San Antonio
- Paesanos Riverwalk3.3 mi away · 111 Crockett Way, San Antonio, TX
- Landry's Seafood House3.3 mi away · 517 North Presa Street, San Antonio, TX
- Saltgrass Steak House3.3 mi away
- The Local Bar3.3 mi away
- Playland Pizza3.3 mi away
Places to stay
- Holiday Inn Riverwalk3.1 mi away · 217 North Saint Mary's Street, San Antonio, TX
- Sheraton Gunter Hotel San Antonio3.2 mi away · 205 East Houston Street, San Antonio, TX
- The Westin Riverwalk, San Antonio3.2 mi away · 420 West Market Street, San Antonio
- Mokara Hotel and Spa3.2 mi away · 212 West Crockett Street, San Antonio, TX
- Omni La Mansión del Rio3.2 mi away · 112 College Street, San Antonio
- Home2 Suites by Hilton San Antonio Downtown - Riverwalk, TX3.2 mi away · 603 Navarro Street, San Antonio, TX
Places data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hours and details change — call ahead.
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Related people
- · Mother Florence Walter
- · Jean Martin Moye
- · Bishop Dubuis
Themes & tags
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