The River Landscape

Land near the San Antonio River has been a human gathering place since native people first camped there 11,500 years ago. The spring-fed river provided water and fish, nearby trees and shrubs supplied fruit, nuts, and seeds, and on the flat plain beyond the tree-lined waterway, hunting and gathering bands known collectively as Coahuiltecans stalked game and harvested grasses to build huts. By 1731, the Spanish had established five missions, a presidio, and a civilian settlement, all of which relied on the river for survival. As the population grew, grasslands and woods were cleared for farms and ranches, streets and houses were built, and the river was straightened to protect the town from flooding. Though the natural landscape was permanently changed, the San Antonio River Improvements Project later restored the river's ecosystem in the Mission Reach by reintroducing native vegetation and creating an environment suitable for recreation and wildlife.

San Antonio, Texas · United States