Get a Bird’s Eye View of the City of San Antonio
When visiting Texas, a must-see city is San Antonio. San Antonio, Texas is the seventh most populated city in the country and ranks second in the state of Texas.
San Antonio is also the oldest city in Texas, dating all the way back to 1718. While most famously known for its rich history including the iconic Alamo and four other Spanish missions, San Antonio, Texas is home to many other attractions and icons of the past. One of those notable icons the Tower of the Americas.
The Tower of the Americas is an observation tower that is 750 feet tall, decorating the downtown San Antonio skyline. The tower was designed by O’Neil Ford, an architect from San Antonio, and was built for the 1968 World’s Fair that was held in San Antonio. The 1968 World’s Fair, known as the HemisFair’68, hosted a contest to name the tower for the event, and the name Tower of the Americas was selected.
Prior to the Las Vegas Stratosphere Tower being built in 1996, it was the tallest observation tower in the entire country. The tower cost a total of 5.2 million dollars to complete, with construction starting in August of 1966. The tower has three elevators that travel up the outside of the structure. The tower remains the tallest building in San Antonio and is within the top 30 tallest buildings in all of Texas today. The tower is located in southeast San Antonio where the World’s Fair took place decades ago.
For a bird’s eye view of the city, visitors are welcome to take an elevator up to a public observation deck for the price of admission. In addition to the observation deck, there is also a restaurant and lounge at the top that circles, providing a 360 degree view of the city. For more information on admission pricing and hours, click here. The tower includes a gift shop on the ground level where visitors can purchase souvenirs. There is also a Tower Cafe on the observation deck, where visitors can enjoy Starbucks coffee and other refreshments. While on the observation deck, visitors can learn about the fascinating history of San Antonio through photographs and information lining the walls. For those looking for a one-of-a-kind keepsake, there is also a photo opportunity where you can get your photo taken with the San Antonio skyline in the background.
The restaurant, called the Chart House Restaurant, offers visitors both lunch and dinner options with a Happy Hour menu. Some of the restaurant’s specialities include a fresh seafood selection as well as the Original Hot Chocolate Lava Cake for dessert. Happy Hour runs Monday through Friday from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm. For a complete list of menu items, click here. During the summer months on the Tower Plaza, local musicians come to play free concerts on Fridays. During the Free Concert Fridays, there is a bounce house for kids, food, drinks and more. Whether you are looking for a unique view of San Antonio or want to experience dining 750 feet up in the air, the San Antonio Tower of the Americas is a stop you have to add to the list!
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