HemisFair Park - San Antonio, Texas

Article and Photography
By George Hosek

Kids and adults alike will find San Antonio’s HemisFair Park overflowing with fun activities and exciting adventures. A Magik Theater for kids, a playground built like fortress, educational museums, and the center piece and one of San Antonio’s most famous attractions The Tower of Americas.

All set in a beautifully landscaped surrounding, with large shade trees, flowering plants and cascading waterfalls. In 1968 HemisFair Park was built to host the 1968 Worlds Fair and to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of San Antonio.

From April 6th to October 6th six and a half million visitors from around the world came to experience the culture, cuisine and history of countries such as Boliva, Brazil, Germany, China, Japan and many others.

The park still embodies the original concept of the Worlds Fair, to showcase San Antonio's ethnically diverse culture and emphasize the city as a center for international trade and commerce.

The museum celebrates Texas culture and ethnicity through hands on exhibits, including "The Texans One and All", "Creation and Cosmos" and "Living Texas".  The ITC also houses more than 6,000 volumes of Texas history and some 40,000 historic photographs.

"The ITC is a cultural experience museum," says Executive Director John Davis, "It's not a collection of history books or exhibits behind glass. These are immersive, interactive learning opportunities. We don't just tell the tale, we bring it to life".

The Magik Theater is a wonderful place to take the kids for an entertaining and educational  theater experience.

Professional and affordable these plays are presented to introduce a new generation of young people to the magic and mystery of theater through plays and musicals such as "The Nutcracker: A Comic Suite" and "Pocahontas, A Musical".

Educational programs are available, Fairy Tale Theater is a touring program for pre-school, kindergarten, first and second graders. Shakespeare Speaks a touring program for high school and middle school. Magik Theater Fall & Spring Academy a twice a week program for kids of all ages that teaches the basic technique of theater and

Shakespeare in the Park is professionally produced and is set in the beauty of San Antonio's most scenic natural locations.

Was used as the Mexican Pavilion during the 1968 Worlds Fair, with the goal of preserving San Antonio's cultural and social bonds to Mexico.

Usually located at HemisFair Park. But because of construction projects underway at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, the Mexican Cultural Institute has moved to a temporary location on Main Street, the Casa Mexicana Gallery, remains at HemisFair Park.

Tower of Americas
600 HemisFair Park • San Antonio • TX 78205
Phone: (210) 223-3101

Magik Theater
420 S Alamo, San Antonio, TX
210-227-2751

Casa Mexicana Gallery
235 Kampmann House
600 HemisFair Plaza Way
San Antonio, TX 78205
210-227-5473

This video is a must see for anyone interested in the 1968 Worlds Fair held in San Antonio, Texas.

Historical footage shows scenes from this amazing time in San Antonio's history, capturing the essence of this extraordinary event.

Including Houston, Bolivar, Nacogdoches, Baytown, The Woodlands, Galveston and more...