Welcome to Texas - Home of the World's largest cowboy boots and the worlds's largest mosaic Virgin Mary.
Since it had been several years since we toured San Antonio, we decided to take a guided bus tour of the City. The tour starts and ends on the side of the Alamo, just across the street from the famous historic Menger Hotel.
Alamo Cenotaph Monument is known as the "Spirit of Sacrifice," which commemorates the Battle of the Alamo. The names of those who fought and died for Texas at the Alamo are inscribed on the monument.
The historic Pearl Brewing Company (founded 1883) was purchased by Pabst Brewing Company in 1999 and then transferred to Miller Brewing on a contract basis. However, in 2001 the brewery was purchased by Silver Ventures, Inc. and became the "Crown Jewel " in the revitalization efforts of southern Midtown and northern Downtown San Antonio. The center is a cultural and culinary destination that contains a large number of shops, restaurants, cafes, and nightclubs.
For those that do not want to drive out to Natural Bridge Caverns, a replica of part of the cavern has been constructed along the bank of the San Antonio River.
And, there are about 80,000 bats that live in the adjacent road overpass. No, that is not dirt that leaks through the expansion cracks in the road -- that is bat guano!
San Antonio's Museum of Art contains the largest and most comprehensive collection of ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Asian art in the southern United States.
The River Walk that has been so popular with tourist and residents is currently undergoing a major expansion.
Tobin Center is home to the San Antonio Symphony, San Antonio Ballet, and a number of resident performing arts groups.
Veterans Memorial Park is on the tour bus route and contains a number of War Memorials.
St. Anthony Hotel is located adjacent to Travis Park and was the first fully air-conditioned hotel in the world. The historic clientele includes President Eisenhower, President Johnson, Eleanor Roosevelt, Judy Garland, Princess Grace and recently George Clooney.
Travis Park is named for William B. Travis, who was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Texas Army and died at the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution. However, it was recently determined that it was not politically correct to have a statue of Travis in the park that was named after him, so the statue was removed and no one seems to know where the statue is now located.
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| Statue of William B.Travis that was removed. Photographer Unknown. |
For over 131 years the Buckhorn Saloon has been a favorite watering hole for Texans. It was reported that Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders frequently visited the establishment.
The three historic theatres (Majestic, Empire, and Aztec) are all located in the downtown area. We did not have the opportunity to go in the buildings, but we were told that the historic furnishings are beautiful.
Market Square-El Mercado has a variety of authentic Mexican dining, music, and small shops (additional tent-shops are set up on weekends).
There are hundreds of murals painted on building walls and throughout the City.
The Tower of the Ameicas Space Needle is 750 feet high and provides spectacular views of the entire San Antonio area (when it is not raining or cloudy).
When we arrived in San Antonio, we experienced a terrible traffic jam in the downtown area, which we later learned was caused by the kickoff for the San Antonio Rodeo. Apparently it is a tradition to drive a herd of longhorn cattle through the downtown area to get everyone ready for the rodeo.
The La Antorcha de la Amistad ("Torch of Friendship") was made by the world-renowned Mexican sculptor Sebastian and given to the United States as a gift from the Mexican government in 2002.
San Antonio City hall is one of the nation's oldest public buildings in continuous use.
Bexar is the fourth largest County in Texas and has a beautiful courthouse with some unusual features.
The Bexar County Jail was constructed in 1878 when counties were still responsible for their own hanging executions; so, a trap door was built on the second floor. The last hanging occurred in 1921.
Then, in 2002 Baywood Hotels purchased the building and converted it into a Holiday Inn Express. Many hotel guests and employees have reported seeing ghost roaming around the building.
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| Photographer Unknown |
San Fernando Cathedral was constructed in 1731 and is the oldest continuously functioning religious church in Texas. Remains of the Alamo heroes are entombed in the chapel.
The Menger Hotel was the most prominent hotel in San Antonio during the 19th century and it attracted many well-known visitors, including General U.S. Grant, General Robert E. Lee, John Pershing, Gutzon Borglum (pictured below), and many others. In 1898 Theodore Roosevelt recruited his regiment of Rough Riders for the Spanish-American War from the Menger Hotel. The story is told that after waiting all day for recruits he was only able to find one person; so that night he started buying drinks in the bar and by the end of the night he had recruited an entire regiment.
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| Photographer Unknown |
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| Photographer Unknown |
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| Photographer Unknown |
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