New downtown residents were often unaware of the extensive San Antonio Public Library Resources, which include Central Library’s permanent art pieces, the Marie Swartz Art Resource Center, the Texana/Genealogy Department and the Kampmann Library Portal. In the most basic terms, San Antonio is experiencing an unprecedented development boom along the Museum Reach of the River Walk, where much of the growth consists of a new demographic of Millennials not yet familiar with our resources. Library staff saw an opportunity to highlight historical preservation and cultural elements and communicate their importance to new downtown residents by way of our shared river.

Library staff created tours from original source material and also featured content partner materials with permission. Staff walked the River Walk step-by-step, designing both an ADA accessible tour and standard walking tours, mapping out featured artwork and local history highlights, and developing discussion points to promote cultural exchange. The History Tour begins at the Central Library. The 1.5-hour tour tracks almost a mile along the indigenous Yanaguana river, highlighting 23 historic features. The two-hour Art Tour is a three-mile round-trip walk that explores 26 pieces of artwork beginning at the Marie Swartz Art Resource Center, and featuring Central Library Art.

The tours resulted in mutual exploration and discussion: downtown residents experienced River history and culture in new ways, while Library staff learned new skills in outreach. Central within Reach increased patron knowledge of San Antonio Public Library’s Marie Swartz Art Resource Center, Texana/Genealogy Materials, Central Library Art, and the Kampmann Portal. The Local History Tour promoted the initial Native American presence, Christian colonization and various stages of San Antonio’s cultural development, as well as historic preservation. Staff promoted community health, well-being, and cultural education, in alignment with the Library’s mission and City of San Antonio goals.