The Alamo

More than 2.5 million people a year visit the 4.2 acre complex known worldwide as “The Alamo.” Most come to see the old mission where a small band of Texans held out for thirteen days against the centralist army of General Antonio López de Santa Anna. Although the Alamo fell in the early morning hours of March 6, 1836, the death of the Alamo Defenders has come to symbolize courage and sacrifice for the cause of Liberty. The memories of James Bowie, David Crockett, and William B. Travis are as powerful today as when the Texan Army under Sam Houston shouted “Remember the Alamo!” as it routed Santa Anna at the battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836.

The Alamo has been managed by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas since 1905. Located on Alamo Plaza in downtown San Antonio, Texas, the Alamo represents nearly three hundred years of history. Three buildings — the Shrine, Long Barrack Museum, and Gift Museum — house exhibits on the Texas Revolution and Texas History. Visitors are welcome to stroll through the beautiful Alamo Gardens. Just a short walk from the River Walk, the Alamo is a “must see” for all who come to San Antonio.

Hours of Operation: The Alamo is open every day of the year except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Admission to the Alamo is free.

The Alamo
300 Alamo Plaza
San Antonio, TX 78299
Phone: (210) 225-1391
Fax: (210) 229-1343

Tower of the Americas

Completed in 1968, the Tower of the Americas stands as an eighty-ton reminder of HemisFair, Texas’ World’s Fair, for which it was the theme structure. The Tower is a triumphant feat of architectural and engineering skills and is still one of the tallest freestanding structures in the Western Hemisphere. Rising 750 feet to the top of the antenna, the Tower is eighty-seven feet higher than the Seattle Space Needle and sixty-seven feet higher than the Washington Monument. The observation deck is encircled by an outdoor walkway which enhances the view above the Alamo City.

The revolving Tower Restaurant provides a breathtaking view of San Antonio. Lunch is also served daily, with a meal for every appetite. Dress is casual for lunch, and reservations are accepted for dinner.

Tower Observation Level Hours: Sun.-Thur.: 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat: 9:00 a.m. -11:00 p.m.

Elevator Fees:

$4.00 for Adults

$2.00 for Senior Citizens

$1.00 for Children (4-11)

Free for Children Under 4

The River Walk

Fed by the waters of the San Antonio River, the famed River Walk, or Paseo Del Rio, is a two and one-half mile stretch of beautifully landscaped waterfront that is filled with quaint shops, elegant dining, five-star hotels, beautiful walking paths, and more. It is one of the most dynamic tourist attractions in the entire state of Texas, and while it is an amazing and romantic place to visit, that wasn’t always true.

In the beginning, Spanish Explorers used the waterway to supply water to their missions. Mission San Antonio de Valero, also known as the Alamo, was the first to benefit from it. The river flooded its banks many times. In September 1921, the worst flood in its history killed over fifty people and caused millions of dollars in damage to the city. City planners struggled over what to do while large debates raged among the people. One man, an architect named Robert H.H. Hugman, proposed a plan that would turn the area into a beautiful urban park with apartments, dining, shopping, boat rides and walkways lit with old-fashioned street lamps. He wanted it to be just as if one were walking in Venice, Italy. After convincing city officials and business leaders of the financial benefits of his plan, the dream became a reality and the River Walk was eventually sculpted into the masterpiece you see today.

The Menger Hotel

The famous hotel, where Teddy Roosevelt raised some of the Rough Riders, was constructed in 1859 under the direction of owner William A. Menger and architect John Fries. The original two-story building occupies a prominent location in downtown San Antonio, only one-hundred yards from the site of the Alamo. It is the Menger that has housed personalities such as Sidney Lanier, Babe Ruth, Mae West, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, Sarah Bernhardt, and Gutzon Borglum, just to name a few.

Buckhorn Saloon and Museum

This is where it all started... the original, western-style saloon where Pancho Villa is rumored to have planned the Mexican Revolution. Many of the original furnishings still grace today’s Buckhorn Saloon, including the back bar which was hand-crafted of marble and cherry wood. Western entertainment in the Saloon includes appearances by trick-ropers, mock gun fighters, and cowboy singers. Feature films play continuously in the various Halls at the Buckhorn. Visitors are able to witness fighting whitetail deer, sport fishing for world record game fish, and trick shooting by Ad and Plinky Toepperwein.

The Buckhorn arcade includes many of the original nickelodeons and rare coin-operated machines that have been a part of the collection for more than a century. Another highlight in the arcade is a state-of-the-art shooting gallery that incorporates many of the Buckhorn’s most popular trophies.

And don’t forget the Buckhorn Museum, more than just a normal museum; it is five museums in one. They have Horns, Fins, Feathers, the Hall of Texas History Wax Museum, and regular special exhibits unlike anything seen in any other museums in the world. Do not miss out on this historical and wonderful piece of Texas history.

El Mercado de San Antonio

Market Square is the largest Mexican market with more than fifty shopping opportunities. The historic sites of San Antonio’s municipal market and center of frequent Hispanic festive cultural activities. You can find gift and fashion stores, leather goods, apparel, galleries, glassware, hand-crafted furniture, imported goods, beautiful jewelry, pottery, clothing, and much more.

Market Square is located in the western edge of Downtown San Antonio and is a short walk away from the Alamo and the River Walk.

La Villita

La Villita, Spanish for “little town,” is an original establishment of Old San Antonio. Spanish soldiers and their families built their living quarters here and later, in the nineteenth century, it became the area that immigrants from Europe settled and built their homes.

Located at Villita Street between South Presa and South Alamo streets, La Villita is a restoration of San Antonio’s earliest residential settlement. Today, La Villita is a quaint complex of shops, galleries, and restaurants housed in the historical homes of the early settlers. Visitors can stroll the cobblestone paths of La Villita and be charmed by the beautiful landscaping and picturesque homes of past eras. There are a variety of architectural styles, from adobe houses to large Victorian era mansions.

The San Antonio Zoo

Being one of the largest zoos in the country with 3,500 animals of 750 species means there is a lot to see. The San Antonio Zoo is one of the premier zoos in the country, and features conservation programs with such animals as the flamingo, white rhino, black rhino, snow leopard, whooping crane, and many more species. This is a unique zoo that not only has a large number of animals on display, but also has one of the most beautiful park grounds of any zoo in the country.

Brackenridge Park and Train

Brackenridge Park has been a San Antonio tradition for over one hundred years. The park is located two miles north of downtown San Antonio, at the headwaters of the San Antonio River. The park features recreational facilities, pavilions, picnic benches, and several miles of jogging trails.

To finish your tour of Brackenridge Park, you will may also want to visit the Japanese Tea Gardens where you can wander among the winding walkways past waterfalls and over stone bridges spanning tranquil pools. The gardens are located in an old quarry which produced limestone used in building the State Capitol in Austin. Brackenridge Park offers something for the entire family and is truly a San Antonio treasure.

Near San Antonio

Admiral Nimitz State Historic Site

One of the last places you would probably look for a U.S. Naval museum is in the Hill Country of Central Texas. But Charles Nimitz, the famous U.S. Naval Admiral of the Second World War, was a Fredericksburg native, growing up in the gentle Texas Hill Country and gaining many influences from the experience.

The Admiral Nimitz State Historic Site in Fredericksburg is the only institution in the continental United States dedicated exclusively to telling the story of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and World War II in the Pacific Theater. Located on a seven-acre site, the Center includes the National Museum of the Pacific War George Bush Gallery, the Japanese Garden of Peace, the History Walk of the Pacific War, the Plaza of the Presidents, the Surface Warfare Plaza, the Memorial and Victory Walls, the Veterans Walk of Honor, and the Center for Pacific War Studies. In addition to nearly 24,000 square feet of indoor exhibit space, the museum boasts an impressive display of Allied and Japanese aircraft, tanks, guns, and other large artifacts made famous during the Pacific War campaigns.

SeaWorld

SeaWorld San Antonio, the world’s largest marine life adventure park and family entertainment showplace, presents a splashy lineup of more than twenty-five sensational shows, thrilling rides, animal attractions, and educational experiences for all ages. It’s actually four parks in one on 250 acres: a show park, a rides-and-slides park, a water park, and an amazing animals park. There is something for the entire family at SeaWorld.