San Antonio is one of the most historic cities in the United States, which is one of the reasons it a great place to visit and live. Walking down Alamo Plaza in San Antonio will transport you back in time. The history behind this south Texas town is rich with memories of Spanish Missions, the Texas Revolution, and Freedom. San Antonio’s community is made up of a rich history and inspiring stories of civilians that took a chance against the Mexican Government to gain independence, making it one of the most fought-over cities in North American.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
Spread throughout San Antonio is five historical Spanish missions The Alamo (1718), Mission Concepcion(1731), Mission San Jose(1720), Mission San Juan Capistrano(1731), and Mission San Francisco de la Espada(1741). These beautiful and untouched missions transport you back to the 1700’s. The missions attract visitors from all around the world, as it is one of the few urban national parks in the country. The Alamo became a military barracks once San Antonio declared for Mexican Independence in 1813.
The Historic River Walk
Located in the middle of Downtown San Antonio you will find the River Walk. The River Walk itself was built due to a deadly flood in September 1921, killing 50 people. Plans were then developed for flood control of the San Antonio River. The original plans were to create a storm sewer but due to the protest of the San Antonio Conservation Society the creation of the River Walk was formed instead. In 1929, San Antonio native Robert Hugman designed a plan for what would become the River Walk. With Hugman’s design and the help of Former mayor Jack White “San Antonio Beautification Project” the 2.5 mile-long River Walk was formed. Today the River Walk is a popular attraction for tourist as it features restaurants, shopping, and hotels along its banks. The River Walk has inspired many similar projects in other cities, such as North Carolina, Colorado, and even in Mexico.
King Williams Historic district
King Williams Historic District is located south of downtown and bounded by the San Antonio River on the West and S. St. Mary’s Street on the East. King Williams Historic District got its name in the 1870s by the many Germans who had migrated to Texas in the 1840s. They developed an area of large, impressive houses designed in the Greek Revival, Victorian, and Italianate styles. This neighborhood became known as “Sauerkaurt Bend” to the rest of San Antonio due to the high number of German citizens. The main street into the neighborhood was given the name King William in honor of King Wilhelm I, King of Pruissa in the 1870s. Today the historic neighborhood has many visitors walk or drive around to see the unique vintage home designs tucked away inside the city.
The Tower of Americas
The Tower of Americas is a 750 foot observation tower located in HemisFair Park on the Southeastern side of Downtown San Antonio. The tower was designed by O’Neil Ford in 1966 and was built for the World’s Fair. The tower was the tallest observation tower in the United States and still is the tallest building in San Antonio. The Tower today gets many visitors who go to see the panoramic view the tower provides of the city. You can either take a quick glass elevator ride to the top or walk up the 952 steps.
The Menger Hotel
The Menger Hotel on Alamo Square is one of the state’s oldest and best-known hotels. William Menger opened the hotel on January 31, 1859. William’s plan to open a hotel came from the popularity of his brewing company, William Menger’s brewery. The Menger hotel was built in the year of 1859, which was 23 years after the battle of the Alamo had ended. There is one President who will forever be linked to the Menger, Theodore Roosevelt. In 1898, at the beginning of the Spanish American War, Teddy used the bar of the Menger as recruiting headquarters for the famous Rough Riders. The bar in the Menger is one of the oldest bars in America and has seen many celebrities. Captain Richard King, founder of the famous King Ranch was a regular guest at the Menger bar and even died in the Hotel. The historic Menger Hotel is said to reside home to 32 different spirits. The most often sighted spiritual guest is a woman named Sallie White. Mrs. White was a chambermaid who’s husband killed her inside the hotel. The hotel is adjacent to the Alamo, some of the ghostly visitors have been attributed to the many that died during the Battle of the Alamo. The hotel is full of history from the Rough Riders, Ghost, and celebrity guest and is a must see for visitors.
We hope you enjoyed learning about some Historical places around San Antonio and are inspired to explore the history of our community. We recommended paying a visit to these local spots and learning more about the life of past San Antonio residents. If you are thinking about moving to San Antonio, just click on the contact us page on this site and we will be happy to help you get started on your move to the Alamo city.
Published on 2016-03-19 05:02:33
