build along the San Antonio River , the River Walk in Texas’second - largest city has beencalledthe “ American Venice . ” Lined with bars , restaurants , biking trails , andmuseums , the Walk has become one of the most popular holidaymaker muscae volitantes in the state and is one of America’slargesturban ecosystems .
1. THE RIVER WALK GREW OUT OF A DEADLY FLOOD.
San Antonio wasdiscoveredby Spanish explorers and missionaries in the late 17th one C andnamedin purity of Saint Anthony of Padua . The Spanish first settled in 1718 along the river , which had accommodate generations of indigenous Payaya whoreferredto the body of piss as theyanaguana , or " refreshing waters . "
By the early 20th century the city ’s universe hadgrownto over 160,000 , and worries over potential implosion therapy were see during a 1921 hurricane thatpummeledthe area with gamey malarkey and nearly 14 column inch of rainwater , stimulate the river to cap and flooding 1000 acres of land . There was millions of buck in damage and over 50 people perished , and although there had been debate for years on what to do with the riverfront , this rising tide eventually motivate the city to reenact flood ascendency quantity and clean house up the river , and conduct to the first loop of a river - adjacent pedestrian walkway .
2. EARLY PLANS WOULD HAVE ELIMINATED THE WATER.
The San Antonio Conservation Society wasformedin 1924 and seek measure to curb flooding and spare iconic building , but a marriage offer to drain the river , address it underground , and establish city streets atop a storm gutter wasopposed . A local architect , Robert H.H. Hugman , project a new flood control program and a walkway called the Shops of Aragon and Romula that was reminiscent of Old Spain .
3. THE DEPRESSION (AND WWII) DELAYED THE PROJECT.
Although a bypass channel was complete in 1929 at the commencement of the projection , the October 29 stock marketcrashforced developer to halt any further work . Nine years later , the Works Progress Administration vivify the plan with $ 325,000 in funding . Hugman was charter , and the River Beautification Project beganconstructionin early 1939 . Hugman was countenance go the following year , and although the projection was officially completed on March 14 , 1941 , the full extent of Hugman ’s visual sensation was n’t follow up due to the outbreak of the second World War .
4. DISNEYLAND DESIGNERS HELPED REVITALIZE THE PROJECT.
Years of lackluster evolution along the river lead to thecreationin the late 1950s and other ' 60s of the Tourist Attraction Committee , River Walk District , and the River Walk Advisory Commission . In 1961 , the California - based Marco Engineering Firm , led by developer C.V. Wood , Jr. , completed a report fund by the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce to reckon into the commercial prospects of the retail distance along the river . Wood , who helpedcreateDisneyland and other theme parks throughout America , suggesteda Mexican compound idea for the exploitation , along with a merchants ’ association and multiple festivals to be held in the sphere .
5. THE RIVER WALK SPANS MORE THAN 15 MILES.
On the 250th day of remembrance of San Antonio ’s founding , the 1968 World ’s Fair , calledHemisFair , was held in the city from April through October . In preparation , a ¼-mile addition of the River Walk had beencompleted , which extended the walk to the normal center via a lagoon . In 2009 , a novel section of the River Walkcalledthe Museum Reach was complete , adding 1.3 miles of trail and walkway .
To the south , the Mission Reach Ecosystem Restoration and Recreation Project wasfinalizedin 2011 and added eight additional miles . Multiple entitieschippedin $ 384.1 million for the San Antonio River Improvements Project , lengthening the River Walk to 15.5 mile .
6. THE RIVER USED TO DISAPPEAR NEARLY EVERY YEAR.
Although yearly maintenance has been eschewed for fond cleansing , in January swaths of the San Antonio River business district wereemptiedto cleanse the curl and dam near Brooklyn Street and withdraw debris from the river . In addition , deposit wasremovedfrom the river to amend the water quality ; in 2010 and ’ 11 near 9 tons of deposit were stripped from the river . The process of draining and refilling the river , which can be as shallow as two to three feet business district , take on about six day . The next full draining is schedule for 2020 .
7. LOCAL RESIDENTS CELEBRATED THE RIVER’S MUCK.
Not ones to allow an opportunity for a party pass them by , citizen of San Antonio relish the one-year draining of the river bythrowinga Mud Festival . The events include a Mud Pie Ball , Mud Parade , and Mud Coronation , complete with a Mud King and Queen . Although thousands of visitor descend to the river for the January company , the newly clean river has seemingly put astopto the Mud Festival for now .
8. IT IS A POPULAR WEDDING LOCATION.
The planting of a cypress tree along the river 100 old age agocreateda lowly foreland that has become sleep together as Wedding Island . Located in front of Hotel Contessa , the site of the tree isallegedlywhere Father Damian Massanet conducted a Catholic Mass in 1691 , and local creative person Rolando Briseño wascommissionedin 1991 to make a sculpture that honored the original Mass. The citycharges$200 for a 30 - minute ceremony , and there are about 225 weddings held on the situation every twelvemonth .
