Come discover what’s old and explore what’s new in our diverse communities, offerings, and celebrations. Winding through the downtown area, its landscaped banks are lined with shops and restaurants. Historical Events. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The San Antonio River is … The mission, later called the Alamo (Spanish: “Cottonwood”), was one of five founded in the area and was named for St. Anthony of Padua. Casa Navarro State Historic Site preserves the home (c. 1848) of José Antonio Navarro, a Mexican statesman who supported the independence of Texas. Manufactures include aerospace equipment, textiles, semiconductors, industrial machinery, and shoes; there are also oil refineries. Top San Antonio History Museums: See reviews and photos of history museums in San Antonio, Texas on Tripadvisor. This mission was built with the aim of converting local Native Americans to Christianity, and as well as to solidify the territorial claims of Spain in the New World against invasion from France. They remained there until March 1836, when they were massacred by Mexican troops under General Antonio López de Santa Anna following a 13-day siege. The Alamo, the four missions in the national historic park, and the Rancho de las Cabras to the southeast in Floresville (also part of the national historic park) were collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2015. Spanish explorers first visited the site, then a camp of the Payaya Indians, in 1691. In 1891 a group of citizens decided to honor the heroes of the Alamo and Battle of San Jacinto with a Battle of Flowers. San Antonio was permanently settled on May 1, 1718, when the Spanish governor of Coahuila and Texas, Martin de Alarcón, founded the presidio (a fort) of San Antonio de Bejar (Bexar) and the mission of San Antonio de Valero (later called the Alamo) on the site of a Coahuiltecan Indian village. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The mission was secularized in 1793 and became a military post. The Alamodome (1993) is the site of conventions, concerts, and sporting events. Come enjoy an engaging program or other services while you enjoy learning just why the historic “Alamo City” is so special. In 1968 a world’s exposition, known as HemisFair, was held there to commemorate the city’s 250th anniversary and to celebrate its cultural ties with Latin America. The city also has dozens of music, dance, and theatre organizations, including a professional symphony. San Antonio: History: The South. for Fiesta, wear silver and black for our Spurs and beam with pride in our distinction of Military City USA®. Agricultural production in the area includes cattle, poultry, peanuts (groundnuts), sorghum, vegetables, and greenhouse plants; the processing of and research on agricultural products is also important. HemisFair Park, the site of the world’s fair, is linked to the central city by the River Walk and is used for conventions and exhibitions; the park’s Institute of Texan Cultures traces nationalities of Texas, and its Tower of the Americas, 750 feet (229 metres) tall, is a city landmark. San Antonio was founded May 1, 1718, when a Spanish expedition from Mexico established the Mission San Antonio de Valero. Last Updated: Dec 17, 2020 See Article History San Antonio Spurs, American professional basketball team established in 1967 that is based in San Antonio, Texas. Alamo Dominates Early History Crossing six miles of city blocks, the San Antonio River is the focus of the city, just as it has been ever since the surrounding valley drew wandering Coahuitecan tribes seeking respite from the heat. A portion of San Antonio's Market Square will be shuttered for three months beginning Jan. 2 — and it's not because of the coronavirus pandemic. Report Station. Military installations largely account for San Antonio’s rapid growth after 1940. 1 of 72 Historical photos archived by the U.S. Library of Congress show the harsh conditions San Antonio residents lived under during the Great … San Antonio, TX Weather History star_ratehome. Inside San Antonio: History - Before you visit San Antonio, visit Tripadvisor for the latest info and advice, written for travellers by travellers. A Spanish expedition from Mexico established the Mission San Antonio de Valero. The city’s rich culture offers an authentic glimpse of early Spanish colonial life in the Southwest. Thank you for reporting this station. Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo, part of San Antonio Missions National Historical Partk, San Antonio, Texas. Keep “San Antonio 365: On This Day in History,” by David Martin Davies and Yvette D. Benavides on your desk or in your work tote for quick, daily comparisons between then — … San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the country. It preserves much of its historical atmosphere and embraces its cultural diversity. The site, on the river’s west bank, was a stopping place on the trail through the Texas wilderness between missions on the Rio Grande and those in East Texas. The Marion Koogler McNay Art Museum contains a notable collection of modern French paintings, and the Witte Museum houses Texas artifacts. In 1836 San Antonio was still the foremost city of Texas, with some 2,500 inhabitants. History > History in Pictures. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. We !Viva! San Antonio is the seat of St. Mary’s University (1852), Trinity University (1869), the University of the Incarnate Word (1881), Our Lady of the Lake University (1896), St. Philip’s College (1898), San Antonio College (1925), and the University of Texas at San Antonio (1969). 50 F San Antonio International Airport Station | Report. (2000) 1,144,646; San Antonio Metro Area, 1,711,703; (2010) 1,327,407; San Antonio Metro Area, 2,142,508. Remains of 18th-century Spanish structures dot the city, contrasting with modern office buildings. By 1837, when it became a county seat of the Republic of Texas, it had been renamed San Antonio. The History Shop, San Antonio: Address, Phone Number, The History Shop Reviews: 4.5/5 The presidio ceased to exist with the independence of Texas in April. As the first civilian settlement in Texas, San Antonio de Béxar was founded in 1718.