Cultural and Culinary Diversity Are Part of San Antonio’s Special StyleBy Suzanne Hall
The Alamo, or Mission San Antonio de Valero— its proper name — is one of five missions established by the Franciscan friars in the late 1600s. All are open to the public and part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, located within the San Antonio city limits. For a good introduction to mission life, stop at the visitor center, adjacent to Mission San Jose. Visitors to the Alamo can step back into the past and learn some surprising facts. While the defenders of the Alamo are revered as Texas patriots, this feisty band of fighters actually were a diverse group of volunteers from several states and countries. Davy Crockett, for example, was one of fifteen Tennesseans who took part in the battle.
The Institute sponsors special events during the year to highlight ethnic crafts and cooking. The largest of these, the annual Texas Folklife Festival (August 5 - 8, 1999) features live entertainment, crafts and foods ranging from tamales to souvlaki. The city’s cultural diversity also takes center stage during Fiesta San Antonio (April 16-25, 1999), a ten-day celebration of parades, festivals, sporting events, concerts, art shows and elegant balls. In May, (May 11-16, 1999) the city gears up for the Tejano Conjunto Festival, one of the few festivals in the world showcasing Tejano and Conjunto music, an eclectic mix incorporating the instruments and musical traditions of several ethnic groups. Not just during festivals, but every day, a cornucopia of cuisines exists throughout the city. Mi Tierra, one of the city’s most popular restaurants, has been run by the Cortez family for 50 years. Located in "El Mercado," a Mexican marketplace, filled with crafts, culture, music and food, Mi Tierra is open 24-hours-a-day. While enjoying its Mexican specialties for breakfast, lunch and dinner, be sure to take a good look at the colorful mural on one dining room wall.
Built during 1939 to 1941 for to controlling flooding of the San Antonio River, the River Walk is a don’t miss tourist attraction. Cantinas, bistros, brewpubs, trattorias, steakhouses and barbecue joints, most offering outdoor as well as indoor dining, fill the air with the aroma of dozens of different cuisines. Live entertainment is a regular event. Shoppers can find everything from T-shirts to designer clothes. The landscaped paths make walking easy. Yanaguana Cruises are a good way to see the area by boat (They’re often quite crowded.) and learn some local history from knowledgeable tour guides. The River Walk also is home to numerous hotels ranging from the towering Marriott River Center and Marriott River Walk to La Mansion del Rio Hotel. Originally constructed as a school in 1852, La Mansion is a charming and elegant 337-room hotel overlooking the water. Las Canarias, the fine dining room, offers both indoor and outdoor dining and top quality food. Germans once comprised the largest ethnic group in San Antonio. Their influence is most apparent in King William Street area, on the east bank of the river and south of downtown. There wealthy German merchants built extravagant homes, many of which still stand. This is also is the original home and headquarters of Pioneer Flour Mills, established in the 1800s by Carl Hilmar Guenther. After establishing his mill in 1859, Guenther built his home. Guenther House still stands as a museum and restaurant open for breakfast and lunch. It’s also a good place to buy products from this country’s longest family-owned and operated mill. The Alamo, La Villita and King William Street are just a few of the attractions San Antonio has to offer. With 25 major festivals each year, a great zoo, art museums and a climate that welcomes visits any time of the year, America’s eighth largest city is well worth a visit or two. CONTACTS:San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau, 203 S. St. Mary’s, 2nd Floor, San Antonio, TX 78205. Phone: (800) 447-3372. Website: http://www.SanAntonioCVB.com La Mansion del Rio Hotel, 112 College St., San Antonio, TX 78205. Phone: (800) 292-7300. Images by S. Parks Hall -Updated 2-19-99- |
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Remember the Alamo? They do in Texas, especially in San Antonio, where the site of the 13-day battle between 4,000 Mexican troops and 189 patriots is maintained as a shrine by the Daughters of the Texas Republic. And when they say shrine, they mean it. Photography of any kind is forbidden in the Mission Church which houses artifacts from the Alamo fighters.
The history of San Antonio is one of cultural and culinary diversity. No where is that better exhibited than at the Institute of Texan Cultures. Opened in 1968 as the Texas Pavilion at HemisFair, the entertaining and educational museum depicts the contributions of 27 ethnic groups to Texas. At the institute, school children from throughout Texas, along with tourists from around the world, can learn of the Native American, Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, German and other groups who helped settle Texas or later made the state their home. Live performances like that of musician and story teller John Newman acquaint visitors with everything from chuck wagon cooking to early methods of transportation. 
Mexican culture and cuisine also take center stage in La Villita, the site of San Antonio’s original settlement. A National Historic District, it has shops and restaurants focusing on San Antonio’s Mexican community. It’s located on the two and one-half mile River Walk.