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San Antonio |
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San Antonio is the attractive and festive heart of Texas.
San Antonio is now the eighth largest city in the United
States and is continuing to grow very rapidly, while
retaining its sense and appreciation for history and
tradition. The city has always been known as a crossroads
and meeting place. Close to twenty million visitors annually
visit San Antonio to indulge in it’s sights and sounds of
many cultures, such as Native American, Old Mexico, German,
African-American, and the Deep-South and Wild West.
History
The early Native American settlers of San Antonio first
lived along the San Antonio River, calling it “Yanaguana”,
which means “clear waters”. In 1961, Spanish explorers and
missionaries came to the river and named the river San
Antonio after the feast day of St. Anthony. In 1718, Father
Antonio Olivares established Mission San Antonio de Valero,
establishing the city of San Antonio. This mission later
became perhaps the most well known in history when in 1836,
it became known as The Alamo. The Alamo is the site where
189 defenders held the mission grounds against more than
4000 Mexican troops for 13 days. The cry “Remember The
Alamo” became the fire behind the Texan Revolution against
Mexico. Following the Battle of The Alamo, Mexican General
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna was captured in a matter of 18
minutes in a short battle by an army recruited and led by
politician Sam Houston, where Santa Anna traded Texas for
his own life. Located in the center of downtown, The Alamo
is a burial grounds and museum.
Paseo del Rio – An Urban Influence
 Paseo
del Rio is more commonly known as “The River Walk”, 20 feet
below street level and stretching two and a half miles from
the Municipal Auditorium and Conference Center in the north
to the King William Historic District in the south. The
river walk winds its way around the business district and
has many personalities. Some areas of the river walk are
quiet and filled with fountains and gardens, while others
are filled with sidewalk cafes, nightclubs, and large
hotels. A river transportation and dining service is
available to tour parts of the river walk. River taxis are
also available to deliver visitors to Rivercenter, a
three-level glass shopping center, and to the newly expanded
and renovated Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center.
Local Attractions and Fun Places
There are lots of places to go and things to see and do in
and around San Antonio. Please Visit the links on the left
side.
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