River Walk - A Bend Saved from Pavement

A stop on San Antonio River Walk and the Alamo, a free self-guided tour.

Go down the stairs and the noise of downtown fades away. You are now one level below the street on the River Walk, a ribbon of stone paths, arched bridges and cypress trees along the San Antonio River.

It nearly did not happen. A flood in 1921 killed 51 people downtown, and flood-control plans included paving over this very bend of the river. The San Antonio Conservation Society protested, and in 1929 young architect Robert Hugman proposed turning the bend into a lively walkway of shops and restaurants. With federal Works Progress Administration money, crews built about 17,000 feet of walkways and some 20 bridges starting in 1939.

The colorful umbrellas here belong to Casa Rio, which opened in 1946 as the first restaurant on the river. Today the River Walk stretches well beyond downtown. Its Mission Reach runs south to the four other Spanish missions, a lovely walk, bike ride or bus trip if you have extra time.

Getting here: Walk south to Commerce Street, turn right, and take the stairs beside the Commerce Street bridge down to the river, where Casa Rio's umbrellas line the bank.

Did you know?: The 1921 flood that nearly doomed the river bend also led to the Olmos Dam north of downtown, which helped protect the River Walk when another big flood came in 1946.

Photo op: Stand on the Commerce Street bridge and shoot down the river toward Casa Rio's bright umbrellas.

More on Wikipedia: San Antonio River Walk · Robert H. H. Hugman · San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

River Walk - A Bend Saved from Pavement

Stops on this tour