Architect / Exhibit Designer: William D. Jones & Assoc. – San Antonio, TX
“With service to people in mind, the Gulf Insurance Group has provided HemisFair ’68 visitors with family comfort and rest center that houses restroom facilities”. (HemisFair Guidebook, 1968)
This pavilion was primarily designed to serve visitors to HemisFair. Located near the tower it provided an area where visitors could meet, rest or enjoy their food from the adjacent dinning area. The enclosed & air conditioned building featured several indoor/outdoor seating areas, restrooms, diaper changing facilities and an information center. In the center of the two story building was a grand fountain called “La Fuente de Reposa” (The fountain of rest). In the brochure for Gulf Insurance it comments on how it was the sole insurer for the entire fair, as well as briefly describing all the services they provided to the general public.
Below are scans of brochure material from the pavilion. (Click on images for a closer look)
The Gulf Insurance Pavilion is one of the few fair built structures that was not demolished and still stands today, though not in public use. On the side of the pavilion facing the Tower of the Americas the section of the elevated walkway adjoining the building still remains with the underside enclosed and used for storage.
Below are pictures of the pavilion today. (Click on images for a closer look)
434 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78205
