Highsmith, Carol M. Entrance sign to Hemisfair Park in downtown San Antonio, Texas. 2014. Photograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2014632003/.
Students will look at the image of the “Entrance to Hemisfair Park,” connecting it to any experiences they might have with the area. Then, they will learn about the history of the park and how it was built as part of the 1968 World’s Fair. Once discussing the changes that happened in the downtown landscape at the time in order to create the area, students will learn about current proposals being made to update and change the Hemisfair area again. After reading about the current proposals, students will decide whether or not they think the changes are a benefit to the city, and they will craft a letter to the city council laying out their opinion.
Hemisfair Park was constructed for the 1968 World’s Fair held in downtown San Antonio, Texas. The event was also a celebration for the 250th anniversary of the city’s founding. In preparation for the occasion, many San Antonio landmarks were added to the city, including the Convention Center, an extension of the Riverwalk, and the Tower of the Americas. Although the development of the area did much to move the city forward, many families were displaced in the process. The redevelopment of the area continues to evolve, most recently with a proposal to turn it into a sports and entertainment district.
Source: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/hemisfair-68
https://www.sa.gov/Directory/Initiatives/Sports-Entertainment-District
Source: : https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/hemisfair-68
https://www.sa.gov/Directory/Initiatives/Sports-Entertainment-District
- Looking at the “Entrance Sign to Hemisfair Park,” what does the sign evoke from the original ’68 World’s Fair? What does the sign seem to symbolize today?
- Should Hemisfair Park remain a central focus to downtown San Antonio, and if so, what form should it take?
ELA Standards
7.11.D.Composition. Compose correspondence that reflects an opinion, registers a complaint, or requests information in a business or friendly structure.
Social Studies Standard
7.20.E. Social studies skills. The student applies critical-thinking skills to organize and use information acquired through established research methodologies from a variety of valid sources, including technology. The student is expected to formulate and communicate visually, orally, or in writing a claim supported by evidence and reasoning related to a social studies topic.
Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and nonprint texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.
- Show the image of the “Entrance Sign to Hemisfair Park” to students. Have students observe the image. Ask them what they know about the place in the picture. Some students may have prior knowledge connected to the location while others will use details in the picture to construct their responses.
- Share the history of Hemisfair Park with the students, letting them know it was built for the 1968 World’s Fair and in conjunction with the 250th anniversary of San Antonio’s foundation as a city. Students can get a taste of what the fair was like with videos from the Texas Archive of Moving Images like https://youtu.be/IXffcEvBKr0. There is also a website curated by Christopher Medina that explores many aspects of the fair accompanied with photos and memorabilia here: https://worldsfair68.info/
- Ask students how they think the visitors from around the world felt going to the fair. What about local community members?
- Share with them that while many improvements were made to the area in preparation for the fair (some of which still endure today), many families and businesses were displaced to make room for new buildings and businesses. How might this change the way some community members perceive the fair?
- After sharing the history of the Hemisfair area, talk to students about what is currently happening with the park. It has been over 50 years since the ’68 World’s Fair, and currently, there is a redevelopment plan in place, working to bring businesses and more housing. The city is also considering turning the area into a sports and entertainment district.
- Have students research the upcoming proposal at https://www.sa.gov/Directory/Initiatives/Sports-Entertainment-District. List pros and cons of the changes as they are reading about the plan. Students should consider the information and decide whether they approve of the proposed changes or whether they think the area should remain the way it is. They will write a letter to the council, sharing their opinion and using evidence from their research to support their reasoning. Remind them to think of all the stakeholders when crafting their letter and also to consider how the choices the city of San Antonio makes now will have an effect on generations of San Antonioians now and in the future.
Highsmith, Carol M. A barge loaded with visitors plies a portion of the San Antonio River that winds through San Antonio's lively, underground River Walk, which turned an unsightly slum into an international tourist attraction. Looming in the distance on the streets above is the Tower of the Americas, the theme structure of the "HemisFair" World's Fair. 2014. Photograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2014633883/.