San Antonio Meeting Planner 2007 - (Page 9) the earlier Carnegie facility on the same site. It was, until recently, the home of the Herzberg Circus Collection and is soon to become The Briscoe Western Art Museum. Next up is the Arneson River Theater, with its romantic, mission-bell backdrop and the amphitheater that serves as a river entrance to historic La Villita. For many this is the heart of the original River Walk, first championed by the San Antonio Conservation Society. Starting in 1924, the Society battled to keep the river from simply being paved over as many city fathers favored – an action that is all but unthinkable now. Designed by Robert H.H. Hugman in 1929, the project was finished with WPA monies in 1938. As we turn right past the Hilton Palacio del Rio Hotel, built with pre-fabricated and furnished room modules for the opening of HemisFair, San Antonio’s 1968 World’s Fair, we come to the first, postHugman extension to the original River Walk – it, too, constructed for the opening of HemisFair. This landscaped walkway originally ended in the lagoon between the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center and the Lila Cockrell Theatre of the Performing Arts – soon to have a new neighbor in the form of the towering Grand Hyatt San Antonio. But the intrepid urban explorer is now encouraged to walk under recent extensions to the Convention Center and up a curling ramp to the Plaza de Mexico, a symbol of the long-time collaboration between San Antonio and the Mexican government, represented here by the Universidad Nacional de Mexico and the Instituto de Mexico, a cultural center offering frequent performances by Mexican musical groups and free shows by Mexican and American artists. (A second, later extension culminates in the basin that is the core of Rivercenter Mall.) There is much to be explored back on the original horseshoe bend of the river – soon to become a complete circuit continued » Tour & ExplorE River Tour HemisFair park. Take a 35- to 40minute boat tour along the River Walk, featuring entertaining narratives on the rich history of the San Antonio River. Charter Tour Similar to the river tour, except date and time specific for private groups, parties and events (reservations required). Dining Cruise A chartered cruise, including breakfast, lunch or dinner (or even cocktails), catered by a River Walk restaurant (must set up in advance). River Taxi If you’re looking for cool transportation along the River Walk, minus the narration, hop on a river taxi with more than 39 convenient stops. Rio on Demand Taxi service (not a tour) that will transport your group from point A to point B at a predetermined time and location. 8 6 6 - 5 17- 7 7 71
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