Remember the Alamo: Trip to San Antonio, Part II

San Antonio was one of my favorite U.S. trips because the city continually strives to preserve historical buildings and sites which have played a significant role in shaping Texas and U.S. history. The San Antonio Conservation Society has been a major force in recognizing historical contributions and preventing modernization from overshadowing it's robust history. This final mini-series post will focus on San Antonio's historic and cultural sites.

Here are some highlights of famous buildings downtown:

O. Henry House Museum

U.S. Post Office Building

Aztec Theater

Emily Morgan Hotel

Buckhorn Saloon and Museum

Travis Park Methodist Episcopal Church

Majestic Theater

Oldest VFW Post in Texas

Casa Navarro:

 

The main downtown area has many interesting and architectural styles from Spanish Colonial to Art Deco. It wasn't as congested as other big cities (e.g Los Angeles) which made it more enjoyable. I traveled on foot from the outskirts of the main downtown area to the Southwest Art School and San Antonio Art Museum. I later discovered later that I took the long way to get to both. 

Southwest Art School- is on the site of the Ursuline Academy founded in 1851 as a girls school led by Nuns. It was later moved and the site now houses the Southwest Art School.

Southwest Art School Historic Buildings:

 

The San Antonio Art Museum is housed in the historic Lone Star Brewery building. It was built in 1905 and was sold to the museum in the 1970s. It's a large complex that houses a significant Asian, Classical, Latin American, and European paintings, sculptures, furniture, and artifacts. They were renovating and remodeling at the time I visited so some areas were closed off and some major Western painting wings were closed which was a bit disappointing, but overall, the displays I saw were sufficient.

San Antonio Art Museum:

 

 

 
Next to the Hemisfair Park, is the historic and cultural area known as La Villita. This corner of San Antonio began in the late 1930s to house a community of artists and craftsmen. There are several preserved houses and shops that survived from the 1800s. It now houses a museum, specialty shops, cafes, and restaurants. The city did well to incorporate into its overall neighborhood master plan.  

La Villita:

 

Missions of San Antonio National Park- Outside of the city proper lies this historically protected area along the San Antonio River. The park consists of 4 of the 5 missions that were established by the Spanish to spread Christianity from the 17th-19th centuries. The 4 missions are: Mission Concepcion, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada. The 5th mission is the church in the Alamo complex which was originally named Mission San Antonio de Valero. Due to my schedule, I was only able to visit two: Mission Concepcion and Mission San Jose. 

Both were in great shape and many structures were preserved and/or restored by conservators. The park is rather large and it's best to bike or drive to all 4. They are spread out so it would be too tiring to walk to them all. I took a public bus to the 2 missions from the city center. There was no entrance fee and you are free to roam all structures of the complexes. The main sanctuary of the missions are still used for church services weekly. The surrounding courtyard and walls are a blend of original and reconstructed stone bricks. Some of the original stone ovens survived and are present throughout the interior. At the time I went, it wasn't crowded (even thought it was a Sunday), so it was peaceful and tranquil strolling across the church lawns and exploring the various buildings at the missions. This was definitely a highlight of my trip as it was far away from the city center, there was more fresh air, it was more green, and the missions appear as much as they did during the colonial days. 

Mission Concepcion:

 

  

 

Mission San Jose:

 

 San Antonio exceeded my expectations overall. It's constant efforts to display and preserve it's past while incorporating modern attractions have made it a well run cultural city. There endless attractions, dining options, and green spaces to relax and enjoy the scenery. This is definitely a place I recommend to those who visit Texas. The city is easily walkable and there are plenty of attractions along the main Riverwalk area. I hope you have the chance to visit San Antonio to experience it for yourself! 

My next blog will showcase some daytrips I took since I moving back to Korea!

Please subscribe to my blog and instagram: joelglobetrotter. Thank you for your support!

Remember the Alamo: Trip to San Antonio, Part I

Hello again! This two-part mini-series will be on my trip a couple months ago to San Antonio, Texas. 

This was my first time actually visiting/traveling in Texas (I've only traveled through Texas during flight transits). I was excited prior to my trip due to the rich history and cultural diversity of Texas that I've learned from classes and travel shows. It was definitely worth the visit! I'm surprised it took me this long to visit Texas!

I arrived in San Antonio and stayed near the famous Market Square area. I chose the location because it was close to the market and near downtown. Originally, I wanted to stay downtown, but the prices were a bit steep and I saw that the Market Square area was in close proximity to downtown. The walk to downtown was only 10 minutes or so. 

My first stop was Market Square. This area has some restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops, and the El Mercado (market). The El Mercado is an indoor space with vendors selling traditional Mexican handicrafts, clothing, knickknacks, and snacks. 

Market Square:

 

 

El Mercado:

 

 

 


While at Market Square, I went to the iconic 24/7 San Antonio Mexican eatery, Mi Tierra. This famous restaurant has been serving customers since opening it's doors in 1947. It's decor is vibrant and festive as it is decorated with Christmas lights, streamers, and traditional Mexican folk handicrafts. 

Mi Tierra Cafe:

 

 

 

 

The Famous Bakery:

 

 

Deluxe Mexican Dinner (beef steak, guacamole, crispy taco, rice, refried beans, tamale)

After, I strolled downtown and visited some famous landmarks downtown.

San Fernando Cathedral:

Built in 1731 and houses the remains of Texas Alamo Heroes: (Davy Crockett, William Travis, and Jim Bowie). 

  

 Bexar County Courthouse:
 Built in 1896, it has continuously been used as the county courthouse to this day.

 

The Alamo (National Shrine):
First established in 1718 as San Antonio de Valero, the building was used as a Spanish church to Christianize the Native Americans near San Antonio. After being secularized decades later, it was abandoned. During the 1820s-1836, native born Texans (Tejanos) under Mexian governance had disagreed with the way they were being treated (denied statehood) and prohibition of further immigration into Texas territory lead to the Texas Independence movement from Mexico. In 1836, a band of 180-200 Texans, led by Travis and Bowie, they fortified and defended against a massive 1,800 man Mexican army under General Santa Anna. After a 13-day siege, the Alamo fell and all defenders died valiantly defending their freedom. 

 

 

 

Riverwalk:
Built during the late 1930's, it has been a major tourist hub and a commercial center of San Antonio. It is beautifully lit at night with outdoor lighting and is lined with rustic cafes, shops, and restaurants. It is a must-see if you ever visit San Antonio. The Riverwalk runs through the heart of downtown and is easily accessible within the city center and it's outskirts. You can ride a small ferry on the river to tour parts or all of the riverwalk stream. The river is only knee deep so it's safe.

 

 

To finish the night off, I had dinner at The County Line, a famous BBQ restaurant on the Riverwalk. I had a 3 meat combo: beef brisket, pork sausage, and baby back ribs. 

 

San Antonio was a great getaway and showed a different side of America I haven't experienced. It is culturally rich, historically preserved, festive, and friendly. I have much more to write about, but I'll wait til the next post to complete this mini-series. I hope you enjoyed reading my Part 1 post on San Antonio and would like to invite you to read Part 2 (coming soon)! 

Thank you for your patronage and please follow my instagram: joelglobetrotter  .