| 1968 San Antonio | |
|---|---|
 The Tower of the Americas, the theme structure for HemisFair '68 | |
| Overview | |
| BIE-class | Specialized exposition |
| Name | HemisFair '68 |
| Motto | The Confluence of Civilizations in the Americas |
| Building(s) | Tower of the Americas |
| Area | 96 acres (39 hectares) |
| Participant(s) | |
| Countries | 30 |
| Organizations | 15 |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| City | San Antonio |
| Coordinates | 29°25′8.4″N 98°28′58.8″W / 29.419000°N 98.483000°W |
| Timeline | |
| Awarded | November 17, 1965 |
| Opening | April 6, 1968 |
| Closure | October 6, 1968 |
| Specialized expositions | |
| Previous | IVA 65 in Munich |
| Next | Expo 71 in Budapest |
| Universal Expositions | |
| Previous | Expo 67 in Montreal |
| Next | Expo '70 in Osaka |
HemisFair '68 was the official 1968 World's Fair (or International Exposition) held in San Antonio, Texas, from April 6 through October 6, 1968. Local businessman and civic leader, Jerome K. Harris Sr.,[1] coined the name HemisFair and conceived the idea for the fair, hoping it would unite all the cultures that comprise San Antonio and solidify the city's reputation as a cultural and historic destination.[2] With help from commissioner Henry B. Gonzales and other San Antonio leaders, the fair materialized and helped transform the city from a cowtown to one of the largest cities in the country.[3] The theme of the fair was "The Confluence of Civilizations in the Americas", celebrating the many nations which settled the region. The fair was held in 1968 to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the founding of San Antonio in 1718. More than thirty nations and fifteen corporations hosted pavilions at the fair.
The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) which oversees World's Fairs and Expositions, awarded HemisFair '68 with official Fair status on November 17, 1965.
The theme character of the fair was a dragon named Luther created by Sid and Marty Krofft, who was later renamed and starred in the Kroffts' Saturday morning television show H.R. Pufnstuf. The main premise of the show was taken from their production for the Coca-Cola pavilion at the fair.
- ^ "Interview with Jerome K. Harris, 1979". digital.utsa.edu. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
- ^ "Hemisfair: A New World's Fair". San Antonio Magazine. 2015-08-26. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
- ^ Huddleston, Scott (2018-03-31). "HemisFair '68 transformed the city". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved 2022-12-08.