San Antonio is one of the oldest Spanish settlements in Texas and was the largest city for decades. Indigenous people occupied the site for thousands of years before the Spanish arrived. First contact with Europeans is most likely to have been made by historical Payaya Indians. Following Mexico’s independence in 1821, Anglo-American settlers began arriving from the United States. During the war that led to the Republic of Texas’ independence in 1836, the Anglo-Americans gained control of Texas. Texas became a state in 1845 after being annexed by the United States.
During World Wars I and II, San Antonio was a major military center, affecting its economy decades later. In 1968, HemisFair was held in that city to commemorate its 250th anniversary and celebrate its cultural ties with Latin America. San Antonians gathered at Las Palmas Shopping Center in the Westside in 1961 to hear Vice President Lyndon Johnson endorse State Senator Henry B. Gonzalez. With the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, segregation was outlawed. Black leaders in San Antonio also praised the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which expanded the rights of Black citizens at polling places. The Riverwalk opened up to a new era of tourists flocking by the thousands to enjoy the fabled city’s jazz bars, restaurants, and shopping.
#1 Aerial view looking east, southeast toward future site of HemisFair, 1964
#2 San Pedro Creek from W. Commerce Street, San Antonio, 1962
#3 San Pedro Creek from W. Houston Street, San Antonio, 1962
#4 Aerial view looking south above the 200 and 300 blocks of South Alamo Street, 1965
Area on the left of South Alamo is Urban Renewal Project 5, site of the San Antonio Convention Center (lower left). At lower left, the building with a tower is the San Antonio Labor Temple, 126 North Street, in New City Block 906. In the center, the four-story building with adjoining building, is the Eighteen Hotel, corner of South Street and South Alamo Street, New City Block 144. The San Antonio River is on the lower right.
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#5 Rainbo Service Station Number 14, 302 Water Street at Haller Alley, New City Block 692, Urban Renewal Project 5, 1960s
#6 San Antonio Fire Station No. 7, 600 South Alamo Street, at Lavaca Street and Water Street, 1965
#7 One-story frame house, 418 N. San Saba Street, San Antonio, 1968
#8 500 block of Water Street, New City Block 889, 1965
#9 Alamo Brake Service at 111 Goliad Street, New City Block 144, 1965
#10 Shed and fence in the 200 block of Culberson Alley, 1965
#11 Aerial view looking east toward New City Block 706 (center), 1965.
San Antonio Independent School District buildings are on the corner of Matagorda and Lavaca Streets. In the foreground (center) is Fire Station Number 7, 604 South Alamo Street at Lavaca and Water Streets. On upper left, across Victoria Street, is the site of HemisFair'68, Urban Renewal Project 5.
