San Antonio Uncovered

San Antonio is in the national spotlight as one of the fastest growing and most dynamic emerging major cities in America. Yet local lore has it that every Texan has two hometowns—his own and San Antonio. The Alamo City's charm, colorful surroundings, and diverse cultures combine to make it one of the most interesting places in Texas and the nation. In San Antonio Uncovered, Mark Rybczyk examines some of the city's internationally known legends and lore (including ghost stories) and takes a nostalgic look at landmarks that have disappeared. He also introduces some of the city’s characters and unusual features, debunks local myths, and corrects common misconceptions. Rybczyk embraces San Antonio's peculiarities by chronicling the cross-country journey of the World’s Largest Boots to their home in front of North Star Mall; the origins of the Frito corn chip and chewing gum; the annual Cornyation of King Anchovy; and Dwight Eisenhower's stint as the football coach at St Mary’s University. This completely updated, new edition of San Antonio Uncovered highlights San Antonio as a modern, thriving city with the feel of a small town that sees beauty in the old and fights to save it, even something as seemingly insignificant as an old Humble Oil Station; and its diverse inhabitants as those who appreciate the blending of the old and the new at the Tobin Center and fight to save what’s left of the Hot Wells Hotel.

Taylor Nichols is a young writer who pens obscure historical guidebooks about his hometown, San Antonio, Texas. His work receives little notice until he unearths a 100 year old mystery that the powerful had hoped would never be uncovered. How far will the city's power brokers go to silence Taylor and his band of friends known as The Travis Club? Intrigue and romance bring this mystery alive in a one of a kind city, San Antonio.

San Antonio was named for the Portuguese Saint Anthony of Padua when a Spanish expedition stopped in the area in 1691. The actual founding of the city took place in 1718 by Father Antonio de San Buenaventura y Olivares. The ?River City? is famous for the Alamo and the River Walk, the two most visited tourists attractions in the entire state of Texas, along with Sea World, Six Flags Texas Fiesta and a very strong military concentration. This book follows life, government, events and people important to San Antonio history and the building of this unique city. Spanning over two centuries and two hundred photographs, this is a must have for any long-time resident or history lover of San Antonio!

This is a unique book about a special city. If you've never been to San Antonio, this book will make you want to go; if you've been to the city many times, this book will make you want to go back again.

Putting archive and contemporary photographs of the same landmark side-by-side, San Antonio Then and Now® is a visual chronicle of the city's pastSan Antonio has a history stretching back almost three centuries. It was established as a Spanish military garrison in 1718, the home of Mission San Antonio de Valero, later renamed the Alamo. During the Mexican War of Independence, Americans fought alongside Mexicans, and at the war's end Texas became a Mexican state. With more than 3,000 American settlers moving into the area, peace didn't last for long. The Texan settlers fought their own war of independence between 1835 and 1836, culminating in the historic last stand at the Alamo. By 1879, Fort Sam Houston was established by the U.S. Army. Throughout the last century San Antonio vied with Galveston, Dallas, and Houston as the largest city in Texas. Today the city is known for its medical and biotechnology industries and is the hub for many multinational companies. Its reputation as a center for business was enhanced when San Antonio hosted the World's Fair in 1968; however, the tourist trade will always be a significant employer thanks to the enduring appeal of that last stand by a small, determined force at the Alamo. Prominent sites shown here include Alamo Plaza, Cenotaph, Menger Hotel, Medical Arts Building, Bexar Courthouse, Governor's Palace, Empire Theatre, Smith-Young Tower, Travis Park, San Antonio River, and Fairmount Hotel.

Everything is bigger in Texas—including ghosts—especially in San Antonio, considered one of the ten most haunted cities in the world by National Geographic. As the saying goes, “dead men tell no tales.” Or do they? From its humble beginnings as a Spanish settlement in 1691 to the bloody battle at the Alamo, San Antonio’s history is rich in haunting tales. Discover Old San Antonio’s most haunted places and uncover the history that lies waiting for those who dare enter their doorways. Take a peek inside the Menger Hotel, the “Most Haunted Hotel in Texas,” and just a block away, peer into the Emily Morgan Hotel, renovated after a decade of being vacant, was once the city’s first hospitals where many men and women lost their lives. Explore the San Fernando Cathedral, where people are buried within the walls and visitors claim to see faces mysteriously appear. Uncover the legends behind Bexar County Jail. Join authors James and Lauren Swartz and decide for yourself what truly lurks behind the Alamo City’s fabled past. Includes photos!

San Antonio 365: On This Day in History tells one story a day in the history of the Alamo City, from popular lore to lesser known events critical to understanding its people and culture. The result is a treasure trove of remarkable tales highlighting small ripples that created big waves in the region’s history. The stories in San Antonio 365 are fun and enlightening slices of history, but they also highlight our collective need to learn from the past. Internationally known as a center of business and tourism, San Antonio has also been the site of significant episodes in the fight for equal rights and justice, the importance of economic and cultural diversity, and the evolution of good government. Among the 365 stories are the anti-Communist riot at Municipal Auditorium led against Emma Tenayuca, the segregation of cinemas and swimming pools, and the 1955 integration of San Antonio schools. Charming anecdotes and quotes bring each story to life. For instance, did you know that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid cooled their heels on the streets of San Antonio a few miles from what would became Interstate 10—where the rock group R.E.M. filmed their iconic video “Everybody Hurts”? A lively essay introducing each month underscores the important ways that history is never just about the past. As Kurt Vonnegut said, “History is merely a list of surprises. It can only prepare us to be surprised yet again.” San Antonio 365 brings to life more than three hundred years of surprises, highlighting both historical moments that have been overlooked and those told again and again—and the compelling characters who shaped the city.

A richly illustrated compilation of more that 150 years of coverage on the history and culture of San Antonio from the pages of the San Antonio Express-News.