The San Antonio River

The San Antonio River rises just north of the city of San Antonio and flows southeast for approximately 180 miles. The river has served many functions, furnishing drinking water and water for irrigation and for power to turn the wheels of mills, foundries, and tanneries, but in recent times it has been most significant for its beauty. Conversion of the river into a thoroughfare by building walks from all principal downtown streets and deepening the stream to make it navigable for small river craft was a part of the WPA grant in 1939. It also included the construction of river-edge walks, landscaping, building of electrical fountains, and the creation of an outdoor theater equipped with water curtains.