Tower of the Americas | |
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General information | |
Type | Observation tower |
Location | San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
Coordinates | 29°25′08″N 98°29′01″W / 29.418888°N 98.483611°W |
Construction started | August 10, 1966 |
Opening | April 6, 1968 |
Owner | City of San Antonio |
Management | City of San Antonio and Landry's Restaurants |
Height | |
Antenna spire | 750 ft (230 m) |
Roof | 622 ft (190 m) |
Top floor | 579 ft (176 m) |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | Ford, Powell & Carson |
Structural engineer | Feigenspan and Pinnell |
The Tower of the Americas is a 750-foot (229-meter) observation tower-restaurant located in the Hemisfair district in the southeastern portion of Downtown San Antonio, Texas, United States. The tower was designed by San Antonio architect O'Neil Ford[1] and was built as the theme structure of the 1968 World's Fair, HemisFair '68.[2] Originally known as 'HemisFair Tower',[3] it was ultimately named 'the Tower of the Americas' as a result of a name-the-tower contest created by the executive committee. Sixty-eight people submitted the name by which the tower is now known.[4]
It was the tallest observation tower in the United States from 1968 until 1996, when the Las Vegas Stratosphere Tower was completed.[5] The tower is the tallest occupiable structure in San Antonio, and it is the 30th-tallest occupiable structure in Texas.
The tower is located in the middle of the former HemisFair '68 site and has an observation deck, accessible by elevator for a fee. There is also a lounge and revolving restaurant at the top of the tower, providing panoramic views of the city.[6]
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