Tower of the Americas

Tower of the Americas
Map
General information
TypeObservation tower
LocationSan Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Coordinates29°25′08″N 98°29′01″W / 29.418888°N 98.483611°W / 29.418888; -98.483611 (Tower of the Americas)
Construction startedAugust 10, 1966
OpeningApril 6, 1968
OwnerCity of San Antonio
ManagementCity of San Antonio and Landry's Restaurants
Height
Antenna spire750 ft (230 m)
Roof622 ft (190 m)
Top floor579 ft (176 m)
Design and construction
Architect(s)Ford, Powell & Carson
Structural engineerFeigenspan and Pinnell
Entrance to the Tower of the Americas
The very top of the Tower of the Americas
View of Downtown San Antonio from the Tower of the Americas
The three elevators on the exterior of the Tower of the Americas

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]

  1. ^ Gerem, Yves (2001). A Marmac Guide to San Antonio. Gretna: Pelican Publishing Company. p. 271. ISBN 1-56554-821-3.
  2. ^ Association, Texas State Historical. "HemisFair '68". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  3. ^ "How San Antonio's most iconic skyline structure came to be". Express News. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  4. ^ Danini, Carmina (April 5, 2018). "It was McComb's towering achievement". San Antonio Express-News. pp. A1, A11. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  5. ^ "Tower of the Americas". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on July 28, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ "Tower of the Americas". Planeteyetraveler.com. Retrieved April 17, 2010.