San Antonio’s Tricentennial: The River Is the Reason

San Antonio’s Tricentennial: The River Is the Reason

For nearly 12,000 years, the San Antonio River supported indigenous people. However, it was when Spanish-colonial settlers formally named the area Villa de Béjar on May 5, 1718, that the City of San Antonio was born. Fray Celiz wrote in his diary that day, “This site is henceforth destined for the civil settlement and the soldiers who are to guard it, as well as for the site of the mission of San Antonio de Valero…”

Shortly after the city’s founding, Mission San Antonio de Valero – aka the Alamo – was moved from its original location. It was moved from the San Pedro Creek to the banks of the San Antonio River. The Spanish and Mission Indians continued to build dams as well as acequias utilizing the river to support the rapidly expanding city. The past, present, and future success of the city is indelibly entwined with the health and value of its namesake, the San Antonio River.

During this Tricentennial year, it is important to recognize and honor the significance of the San Antonio River and its tributaries. After all, it is why the Spanish, and the indigenous peoples before them, settled in this area. The San Antonio River Authority’s (SARA) Tricentennial celebrations will promote the river’s role in the region’s history and the importance of protecting the river and its tributaries for the benefit of future generations. This is part of SARA’s commitment to safe, clean and enjoyable creeks and rivers.

SARA is hosting and supporting numerous Tricentennial events and projects in San Antonio and Goliad. A few occurred earlier in this Tricentennial Year, including: