San Antonio Riverwalk

Navy Band playing at the Rivercenter
Mall turnaround for the River Boats

1536 - 1792 1809 - 1899 1900 - 1949 1950 - 2008 The River Walk History The Historic Events from 1950 to 2005 Since the early 1950s and on to the 90s, Tourists and locals alike have strolled along this amazing River and enjoy all that it has to offer, the history, wonder, beauty and pride that have made San Antonio what it is today. A marvel of nature and ingenuity, it has inspired and enriched the lives of its neighbors as well as its visitors for centuries. 1951-1953 San Antonio River is straightened from McCullough to A Street. A tainter gate is installed in the bypass channel. 1954 Congress authorizes the San Antonio Channel Improvement Project to provide flood protection for 31 miles of river and 4 tributaries in San Antonio. 1956 Bob Frazer, Director of Parks and Recreation since September, 1955, establishes a small botanic garden on the River Walk with philodendron, banana plants and palms. Custodian Gentry Taylor and 3 staffers maintain the park. 1957 Park rangers, organized in 1955, are placed on river. 1959 David Straus forms the Tourist Attraction Committee under the auspices of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce to look at economic development of the river walk, which is now a city park but dangerous at night. Lang Jeu opens in river level of the Clifford Building. 1960 Open since 1899, the Original Mexican Restaurant at 231 Losoya is closed. New San Juan Dam completed in new flood channel. 1961 Marco Engineering Company of California, major designers of Disneyland, complete a report, funded by the City and the Chamber, on the commercial potential of the river. The plan suggests that all buildings which back up to the river be developed in an early Texas or Mexican colonial style, and that as many as possible be rehabilitated to provide basement space that would open at the River Walk level to accommodate retail and entertainment facilities. Criticism arises over the carnival-like aspects of the plan, but other elements, like forming a merchants' association and holding frequent festivals are used as a basis for further plan development. 1962 Straus along with Harold Robbins and Jimmy Gause from the Chamber staff visit Carmel, CA, and New Orleans' Vieux Carre Commission to look at their ordinances guiding development. Straus frames an ordinance based on these two documents which establishes a River Walk District and a seven member Rlverwalk Advisory Commission. Council adopts the ordinance on March 28. The Department of Parks and Recreation completes a major landscape program along two miles of river walkway, including over 17,000 assorted tress, shrubs, vines and ground cover. El Tropicano, the first riverfront hotel, opens. La Sirena at 107 West Commerce opens with a patio at river level. The Three Wives Antique Shop, at a location now part of the Hilton Hotel opens in November. 1963 April 15. The San Antonio Chapter of the American Institute of Architects unveils a plan for the Paseo del Rio. The plan takes the form of drawings, text and a scale model. It includes a land use plan, the basis for a planning district recommendation, and a capital improvements program for public and private development. The Chamber of Commerce creates a staff position to assist the Tourist Attractions staff manager of the Paseo del Rio project. The Landing opens in the basement of the Nix Hospital in April. 1964 San Antonio voters approve $500,00 bond issue for Paseo del Rio improvements City Council adopts an ordinance regulating signage on river walk. March 17. The Paseo del Rio Association is formed, with a staff person funded by the Chamber of Commerce staff position and the money used to pay a PR person to write the weekly Rio Ramblings for the Express-News. 1965 The San Juan Dam is extended so water can get into the San Juan Ditch. 1966 La Paloma del Rio opens at 215 South Broadway (Losoya). The Billboard Theater opens at street level of 231 S. Broadway over Venice Restaurant which opened the year before. The first Conservation Society-sponsored Las Posadas is held on the streets of San Antonio using the Courthouse, the Navarro House and the Spanish Governor's Palace. 1968 March. Hilton Palacio Del Rio opens. Hotel La Posada opens in the old St. Mary's Law School on College St. April-October, HemisFair '68. Construction is completed on the river extension and the convention center complex. August 12. Kangaroo Court opens. The Little Rhein opens in a San Antonio Conservation property. December. First Fiesta de las Lumlnarlas held. The bypass channel is modified. 1969 The first Paseo del Rio Assn. Great Country River Festival. The Stockman Restuarant at 409 E. Commerce opened. Espada Dam is reconstructed. 1970 Voters approve a bond issue for River Walk beautification and flood gate revamping. La Posada reopens as La Mansion del Rio. An addition to the hotel is completed in December 1979. 1971 The Corps of Engineers complete river improvements from Alamo to Johnson Street. The Fort Worth District and the San Antonio River Authority are given a Corps Award of Merit for general, landscape development design. The San Juan-Espada Ditch relocation project is completed. The Fiesta de las Luminarias and Las Posadas are combined for a River Walk presentation. 1973 The River Corridor Feasibility Study is completed, in a joint effort of six local government entities. The "River Corridor Plan' provides a long term framework for development decisions along the river. 1974 Flood gate 5 is relocated further down the bypass channel and flood gate 4, constructed to allow for circular boat traffic on the river bend and bypass. 1975 The Southwest Craft Center opens on the site of the old Ursuline Convent in buildings that have been bought and restored by the Conservation Society. 1976 The San Antonio River Authority moves its offices to a new site on the river opposite the Steves Homestead. 1977 September. San Juan Dam falls. 1978 November 11. Robert H.H. Hugman is honored at a ceremony inaugurating the Hugman bells at the Arneson River Theater. 1979 A new Marriott Hotel opens on the river extension, next to the Marina Garage. The Casino Building, the Riverside Hotel and the Losoya Building are refurbished as new rental apartments using special federal monies for rehabbing the second to top floors. 1981 In May, the Espada Aqueduct/Pledtas Creek Bypass project is completed. The Hyatt Regency Hotel and the Paseo del Alamo are opened, linking the River Walk and Alamo Plaza. The first Holiday River-Parade is held. 1983 Club Giraud opens at the Southwest Craft Center. The Johnson Street pedestrian bridge is opened. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park established in February. 1984 River channel improvements are completed from Alamo to Arsenal Streets. 1985 Channel Improvements are begun from Arsenal to Durango. 1987 Holiday Inn River Walk is completed. The Nueva Street Dam, Bridge and Marina are completed. San Antonio tunnel project begun. Tunnel will carry storm waters from Josephine Street south of US 281, 150 ft. underground and return them to the river channel at Lone Star Blvd. Project to be completed in 1995 1988 Channel Improvements are completed from Commerce to Houston Street incorporating Hugman's details. The Hugman wall across from La Mansion and below the Aztec is completed. Rivercenter opens on an extension of the river extension. The Mall opens in February, Dillard's in May and Marriott Rivercenter in October. The Original Mexican Restaurant opens at 528 River Walk. 1990 The first Carnaval del Rlo is held. 1992 San Antonio River Authority begins repairs and drainage work on Asylum Creek and San Juan Ditch. Water to flow again in the ditch when completed in 1994. 1993 Eckert's Drugstore opens in Noah Spears/Flo Kampmann Atherton Crichton Building 1994 Work completed for San Juan Ditch project. Pumps now able to put water in ditch. 1995 Southbank project between Presa, Crockett, Navarro, and river opens. Newly constructed buildings designed to fit in with existing architecture of San Antonio. Tenants are Country Line, Fat Tuesday, Hard Rock Café, Peasano's, Starbuck's, and Howl at the Moon. 1996 Presidio Plaza between Crockett, Navarro, Commerce and river opens with Planet Hollywood, the Edge, The Presidio and Dos Chihuahuas. 1997 January - Homewood Suites opens in old San Antonio Drug Company building. April - Havana River Walk Inn on Navarro opens. August - Adams Mark opens in 1950's National Bank of Commerce Building on river. December - San Antonio Tunnel project dedicated. 1998 September 10 - International Center opens, a conversation of old Main Library on S. St. Mary's. October 16-17 - a 20'' rain flooded many areas in San Antonio, particularly on the Salado and Leon Creeks. The tunnel worked beautifully in saving downtown San Antonio. November - Bexar County and the city of San Antonio formally inaugurate the San Antonio River Oversight Committee to oversee the further development of the river from US 218 to Mission Espada. The Hawthorne Suites open on N. St. Mary's. 1999 May - Drury Inn opens in old Petroleum Commerce building on N. St. Mary's; Mexican Manhattan on Soledad opens riverfront patio overlooking flood channel river walk. 2000 Westin Hotel opens on site surrounded by S. St Mary's, Market, Navarro and river. 2001 September - Civic Center Plaza at the corner of Main Plaza and commerce dedicated. November - Landry's opens in the location of Bayou's in the riverside building. December - River Walk from Presidio Plaza to N. St. Mary's on Crockett Street side dedicated. 2002 River improvements take place from Convent to Lexington and from Houston to Convent dedicated. 2003 Hotel Valencia opens at Houston, St. Mary's & River in January. 2004 The Water Mark Hotel and Spa opens across from the La Mansion Del Rio. 2005 First PDRA Mardi Gras Night Parade. 2006 January - Rainforest Cafe opens in Chandler Building March - Waxy O'Conners opens in Peterson Building next to Aztec. Iron Cactus opens in the Aztec Building March - Center for Foods of the Americas open at Pearl Brewery May- Pearl Stable opens at Brewery. Grandly renovated Aztec Theater opens 2007 January Newly and brightly renovated El Tropicano opens under Holiday Inn Management February - Drury Plaza opens in old Alamo National Bank building with a sidewalk in the bypass channel connecting the northern and southern parts of the river bend. May - Construction begins on the Museum Reach (Lexington to Josephine) of the San Antonio River Improvements Project. October- Saltgrass Restaurant opens in Casino Building on the river and street levels. November - Initial construction begins on Mission Reach of San Antonio River Improvements Project.