River History

A Winding Course

Here’s a look back through time at San Antonio’s fascinating waterway, from the first evidence of human settlement through today.

Witte Museum Collection
Horses and buggies cross the San Antonio river, circa 1900

Ancient Times

Archaeological evidence indicates that Native Americans lived in the vicinity of the San Antonio River, most likely attracted by the plentiful water springing from the Edwards Aquifer.

1600s

The Payayas were living along the San Antonio River and its headwaters in semi-permanent settlements when Spanish explorers arrived in 1691. They called their home Yanaguana, “the place of refreshing waters.”

1700s

Five Franciscan missions were established along the San Antonio River in the early 1700s. In 1731, a group of Spanish settlers from the Canary Islands arrived and settled between the river and San Pedro Creek. The river was their sole source of water; and a complex system of seven acequias and aqueducts conveyed river water to the city and the grounds of the missions.

1860s

George Brackenridge built his water works to improve water quality for the rising, immigrant-fueled population; thereby decreasing their reliance on the river and the acequias which contributed to the devastating cholera epidemics. Remnants of the old facility can still be seen in Brackenridge Park.

1880–1900

Increased demands for water and chronic drought conditions lowered river levels and dried out acequias. In the 1950s, a more powerful pump was installed in Brackenridge Park.

1900–1926

As the City Beautiful Movement swept the country in the early 1900s, San Antonio focused on the river. The implementation was a uniform width rock-lined channel in the bend with sodded banks and many planted trees. It became the site for Venetian-like carnivals and a fiesta. In 1921, the biggest flood of the century swept across the city, killing 50 people, destroying 13 bridges, and making flood control the city’s new top priority. In 1926, construction of the Olmos Dam was completed.

1929–1939

As the Great Depression swept the country, Robert H.H. Hugman created the original River Walk in San Antonio, designed to be reminiscent of the waterways and street life of Venice. His plan looked beyond the engineering concerns of the river and envisioned a river level park and open space with retail shops. Construction began in 1939 on a 2.8-mile section of the river, and included 35 new bridges and 31 stairways. Sadly, over the next two decades, the urban park 20 feet below street level became such a gathering place for the more dangerous elements of society that in the 1950s the area was declared off limits to military personnel on leave.

1959–1960s

The San Antonio Chamber of Commerce formed the Tourist Attractions Committee to decide how to enliven the languishing urban park. The consultants for Disneyland completed a report on the commercial potential of the river. On the committee's recommendation, the City established a River Walk District, a River Walk Advisory Commission and floated an unprecedented $30 million bond for improvements. Rejecting the look that the Disneyland consultants suggested for river properties, the committee engaged the San Antonio Chapter of the American Institute of Architects to develop a plan. Their Paseo del Rio Plan showed how existing buildings could have a river level twenty feet below the street. The Paseo del Rio Association was formed to promote and market the River Walk.

1968

San Antonio hosted HemisFair, designed to be a mini-world's fair; and the River became a vibrant hub of activity, charming tourists and locals alike. Developers, City officials, and local chambers of commerce all recognized the huge potential of the San Antonio River.

1970s–1990s

Several efforts were made to develop a plan to extend the San Antonio River (see Project History), but until the formation of the San Antonio River Oversight Committee in 1998, these could not begin to move towards reality.

Today

The San Antonio River Improvements Project became a reality in June, 2001, when construction began on the downtown section of the river.  That was completed in October 2002, on time and under budget.  In May 2007 construction began on the Urban Segment of the Museum Reach, followed by groundbreaking on the Mission Reach in October 2007. With an estimated cost of $250 million in public and private funding, the project will become the longest linear park in the country, transforming San Antonio in exciting ways, and creating a legacy for its citizens for generations to come. View the “Currents & Eddies” Art Masterplan (4.2Mb PDF).