Tower of the Americas

Observation tower in San Antonio, Texas

Tower of the Americas

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 / 29.418888; -98.483611﻿ (Tower of the Americas)
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
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 Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas 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]

## History

[edit]

### Background and construction

[edit]

The Tower of the Americas was conceived as the theme structure for HemisFair '68, a world's fair held to celebrate the 250th anniversary of San Antonio.[7] Designed by local architect O’Neil Ford, construction of the tower began in 1966 and was completed in 18 months, in time for the fair.[8] The tower, including its antenna, stands 750 feet above the former fair site, now HemisFair Park.[9]

Construction of the tower was notable for its unique method. The 1.4-million-pound top house, containing observation decks and a restaurant, was built at ground level and then hoisted to the top of the concrete shaft, inch by inch, using twenty-four steel lifting rods. This process took twenty days.

Prior to Landry's, Frontier Enterprises (owner of San Antonio-based Jim's Restaurants) operated the Tower of the Americas' restaurant for more than three decades.[10]

### Renovation

[edit]

In 2019, inspectors uncovered serious structural deficiencies at the Tower of the Americas.[11] In particular, the top of the tower had developed serious cracks, and some of the tower's stucco cladding had fallen off.[12] The report also found that some repairs had to be completed within one to three years.[12][13] The city government began requesting bids for repairs to the tower in late 2022, and the city and Landry's agreed to collaborate on the repairs the next January. At the time, the project was scheduled to cost $15.4 million, and Landry's planned to provide another $3 million.[14][15] The San Antonio city government authorized Landry's to begin negotiating with contractors to repair the tower.[12] The tower's renovation was delayed as the city continued to review bids,[16] and Landry's proposed taking over the repair process.[17]

In late 2024, the San Antonio City Council approved a $19.4 million renovation of the tower.[11][18] At the time, the project was planned to be completed in December 2025. To accommodate the repairs, Landry's expected that the tower would have to be closed from April to June 2025.[19]

• CN Tower, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Willis Tower, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
• Stratosphere, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
• Tower of the Americas, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
• Space Needle, Seattle, Washington, U.S.

## Tower heights

[edit]

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

* 750 ft (229 m) to top of the antenna.
* 622 ft (190 m) to top of roof.
* 579 ft (176 m) to indoor observation deck.
* 560 ft (170 m) to outdoor observation deck.
* 550 ft (168 m) to restaurant and stationary level.

## FM radio

[edit]

Since 1970 the roof has hosted a 30-meter-tall (98 ft) tapered steel mast, used as support for three FM antennas; 101.9 KQXT (then known as KCOR-FM), 102.7 KJXK (then KTFM), and 104.5 KZEP (then KITE-FM). In 2007, the three individual antennas were replaced by a 16-bay master antenna that radiates all three FM signals including the HD signal for KQXT. Clear Channel Radio and Electronics Research Inc. headed up the project along with their contractors and involved the City of San Antonio and Landry's Restaurants. The new antenna system improved coverage for all three radio stations. An option existed for several years to add facilities for a move in signal on 97.7 (requiring rearrangement of ten other stations) to share the site. This was organized by Bret Huggins and David Stewart of Rawhide Radio, LLC (partly owned by Hispanic Broadcasting, now Univision radio).

Transmitters are located between the public areas of the observation deck and the revolving restaurant in equipment bays along with air conditioners and plumbing.

## Record ascent

[edit]

The fastest recorded time up the tower's 952 steps is 5 minutes 18 seconds on January 29, 1981.[20]

## See also

[edit]

* List of Towers
* Tower Life Building
* List of revolving restaurants

## References

[edit]

* "A Guide to the San Antonio Fair, Inc., Records, 1963-1995 (Bulk 1964-1968)". Texas Archival Resources Online. Retrieved Feb. 9, 2006.

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.
6. ^ "Tower of the Americas". Planeteyetraveler.com. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
7. ^ "History | Tower of the Americas in San Antonio, TX".
8. ^ "The History Of The Tower Of The Americas In 1 Minute".
9. ^ "Tower of the Americas - HemisFair'68 - LibGuides at University of Texas at San Antonio".
10. ^ Association, Texas State Historical. "HemisFair '68". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
11. ^ a b "Tower of the America's $19.4 Million repair project approved by council". WOAI. December 12, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
12. ^ a b c "City council to consider $15.4 million repair plan for Tower of the Americas". WOAI. July 17, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
13. ^ Blood, Christian (July 18, 2024). "$15.4 million in repairs to Tower of the Americas could begin soon". KTSA. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
14. ^ Biediger, Shari (January 7, 2023). "Landry's to partner with city on repairs to Tower of the Americas". San Antonio Report. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
15. ^ "City, Landry's form partnership for Tower of the Americas renovations". San Antonio Business Journal. January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
16. ^ "Tower of the Americas renovation sees monthslong delay as bidding continues". San Antonio Business Journal. October 23, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
17. ^ "Landry's in talks to take over Tower of the Americas behind-schedule repairs from city". WOAI. August 31, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
18. ^ Castillo, Rhyma (December 7, 2024). "Tower of the Americas will undergo $19.4M in repairs after years of delay". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
19. ^ Haas, Meredith (December 11, 2024). "Tower of the Americas expected to get $19.4 million facelift in 2025". kens5.com. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
20. ^ San Antonio Express News, January 30, 1981, page 12-A

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tower of the Americas.

* History of the Tower of the Americas research guide with archival photographs
* Tower of the Americas restaurant
* Emporis: Tower of the Americas[usurped]
* Tower of the Americas at Structurae
* FCC-Entry

Preceded by

Elm Place

|  Tallest Building in Texas
1968–1974
229m | Succeeded by

Renaissance Tower (Dallas)

|
|

Preceded by

None

|  Tallest Building in Texas Outside of Dallas and Houston
1968–2009
190m | Succeeded by

The Austonian (Austin)

Preceded by

Tower Life Building

|  Tallest Structure in San Antonio
1968–Present
229m | Succeeded by

None

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* Tower of the Americas (1968) (Non-Building)
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