Passenger Transport 2010 APTA Annual Meeting - 60

2010 Annual Meeting
he city of San Antonio took shape with simple structures, but soon began building in stone, both around squares in the new city center and south along the San Antonio River. Oak-shaded strolls along the streets of the King William neighborhood are the best way to appreciate the stately architecture (a visit to the Steves Homestead Museum provides an inside look), and side trips to flanking Southtown, a thriving

San Antonio Visitors Can See Many Landmarks
area of restaurants and galleries, will provide colorful contrasts. San Fernando Cathedral. Texas hero James Bowie married Ursula de Veramendi in its sanctuary, and Mexican General Santa Anna used the church as a lookout. Today, San Fernando still serves the city and citizens, now as the cathedral of the Diocese of San Antonio. Built in 1738, the cathedral has a long history that includes both religious and secular duties. Alamo. The first mission established in San Antonio, the Alamo (San Antonio de Valero) served as a way station between east Texas and Mexico. It was already 100 years old when it fell in the notorious Battle of the Alamo. You’ll find in the heart of the city the oftenphotographed church façade, as well as relics in the Long Barrack Museum. Aztec on the River. The setting is a historic 1926 movie palace that has been meticulously restored, complete with a Mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ. Modern enhancements have been added to create an incredible experience featuring a multi-million-dollar special effects show in the Grand Lobby, plus shopping and dining options. The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower has been called the most beautiful church in San Antonio. It is filled with significant works of fine art such as hand-carved Stations of the Cross, a hand-carved retable above the main altar, marble altars, and stained glass. Casa Navarro State Historic Site. Nestled in downtown San Antonio, this half-acre site is the restored home of Texas patriot José Antonio Navarro (1795-1871). Today, visitors can tour Navarro’s adobe home furnished with period antiques, read copies of his writing, and discuss questions of history with informed interpreters. Charline McCombs Empire Theatre. The intimate and charming Empire has been used as a venue for vaudeville, silent and talking motion pictures, concerts, and live theater. Fort Sam Houston. The Tower of the Americas rises 750 feet Established in 1845, the fort above San Antonio. moved to its present location in 1876. The post is known as Mission San Juan boasted the birthplace of military aviafertile farmlands that allowed it tion and the site of the first to be self-sustainable. Its chapel flight of a military aircraft in and bell tower are still in use 1910; it also is considered the today. home of Army medicine. Southwest School of Historic Sunset Station Arts & Crafts, situated on a at St. Paul Square. Sunset historic campus alongside San Station, nestled in the historic Antonio’s River Walk, is one St. Paul district, offers a unique of the nation’s largest commuexperience in downtown San nity-based art schools, offering Antonio. A self-paced walking classes to established artists as tour allows visitors to marvel at well as to beginning and interturn of the century architecture mediate students of all ages. and catch concerts representSpanish Governor’s ing all genres of music before Palace, a national historic dining out. landmark labeled “the most Majestic Theatre, another beautiful building in San of the remaining vintage Antonio” by the National vaudeville movie palaces, is Geographic Society, once now home to the San Antonio housed the officials of the Symphony and the AT&T Spanish Province of Texas. Broadway Series. Over the entrance is the origiMission Concepcion nal keystone, which contains looks much as it did almost the carved, double-headed three centuries ago. eagle of the Hapsburg coat-ofMission Espada contains arms and the inscription, in the best-preserved segment of Spanish, “Finished in 1749.” the acequia (irrigation system) Tower of the Americas. used to bring water to the For more than 35 years, the fields. 750-foot-tall Tower of the Mission San Jose, estabAmericas has provided the most lished in 1720, became known breathtaking view of the Alamo as the “Queen of the Missions” City. Visitors can dine at the for its grand design of stone tower’s revolving restaurant or walls, bastions, and magnifienjoy the scenery from the cent church. observation deck.

The history of San Fernando Cathedral dates back to its construction in 1738.

56 | Passenger Transport

Photo by Al Rendon, SACVB

Passenger Transport 2010 APTA Annual Meeting

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Passenger Transport 2010 APTA Annual Meeting