Architect: Caudill, Rowlett & Scott – Houston, TX
Exhibit Designer: Gordon Ashby – San Francisco, CA &
. Usher-Follis, Inc. – Los Angles, CA
“The Institute of Texan Cultures tells the story of Texans: who they are, where they came from, what they did to make Texas what it is today.” (HemisFair Guidebook, 1968)
Built as the largest pavilion, the Texas pavilion featured a large open floor plan which was divided into several sections one for each of the ethnic groups which settled Texas. In the center of the exhibit floor is a domed ceiling which housed a then state of the art projection system featuring an hourly show on the history of Texas.
The basic design of the structure resembles an inverted pyramid with an earthen berm perimeter.
Below are scans of Spanish brochure material from the pavilion. (Click on images for a closer look)
Below are exterior images of the pavilion. (Click on image for a closer look)
“A central dome, sixty by eighty feet in diameter and two stories high, contains the dramatic climax of the show. This is an ultra-modern film and slide presentation using 36 screens and 42 projectors“.(HemisFair Guidebook, 1968)
“The viewer will find himself surrounded by color and activity-a quick look at the people of Texas with special emphasis on the ceremonies which, having been preserved within each of the cultural groups, preserve the ways of the native country”.(HemisFair Guidebook, 1968)
In the early 2000s the original dome show was retired, partly due to the fact that the original projection systems were showing their age and replacement parts were proving difficult to find. After the dome was retrofitted with a new system, newer shows can easily incorporate still photography, audio and video.
As part of the year long exhibit celebrating HemisFair’s 40th anniversary a customized show was created showcasing archive video and music from the fair
In 1968 KLRN TV was the fledgling public television station serving the San Antonio & Austin areas, was housed at Cambridge Elementary School since it’s creation in 1962. Prior to the opening of HemisFair, station operations were moved into the newly completed Texas Pavilion’s upper floors. According to the documentary on HemisFair produced by KLRN in 1998, General Electric donated the necessary hardware to upgrade the station from black & white to color transmission. KLRN also produced a daily ½ hour program showcasing fair events as well as interviewing visiting celebrities & dignitaries. Station operations remained in the Texas Pavilion till 1994.
Since the early 1970’s the institute has hosted several yearly events showcasing the rich and varied ethnic history of the great state of Texas. Some of the larger events include the Texas Folklife Festival, and Asian Festival.
After the fair the museum became apart of the newly founded university and today is referred to as the HemisFair Campus. Prior to the donation of 650 acres on the far north side of San Antonio, the former fair grounds were on the short list of possible locations for the new university.
Below are pictures of the pavilion after the Fair. (Click on images for a closer look)
Below are pictures of the pavilion today. (Click on images for a closer look)
In 2009 the ITC was accepted into the Smithsonian’s affiliate program.
After 56 years of operation the Institute of Texan Cultures closed the doors of the State of Texas Pavilion for the last time. Unfortunately, this was the result of many factors including: increasing maintenance of the aging building, lack of direct pedestrian access to the main tourist area on the opposite end of the Fair site, lack of modern options to repurpose the upper level of the building.
Based on the recommendations of the ITC 2068 Commission, the ITC will be temporarily relocating to ground level space in the Frost Tower located in the downtown area. Along with the relocation the ITC is working to identify a new property in the main tourist area preferably near the Alamo complex.
Prior to the closing of the pavilion the Conservation Society of San Antonio began work to preserve the pavilion as the ITC was planning to vacate. The society was successful in having the pavilion both added to the National Register of Historic Places as well as being designated as a State Antiquities Landmark. However, the University of Texas at San Antonio which has owned the pavilion & property since the early 1970’s opted to have the pavilion demolished.
According to local media reports in late 2023, the University entered into a letter of understanding to either sell or lease the pavilion site to the proposed sports complex. In late 2023 the City of San Antonio announced a proposal to redevelop the eastern end of the former World’s Fair site into a new sports district called “Project Marvel”. The project proposal calls for the construction of a new NBA arena on the footprint of the Texas Pavilion.
I have created a page covering the “Project Marvel” proposal in more detail and its use of the eastern end of the former World’s Fair site. Click Here to learn more.
In fall of 2024 Joeris General Contractors began the asbestos abatement process on the interior of the building. In early January of 2025 the contractor simultaneously began work on exterior demolition (flag plaza, walkway, fountain followed by exterior cladding.
I early April of 2025 the first of the main exterior concrete panels were removed from the top floor. Although the demolition schedule was well underway at this point this prompted the Conservation Society of San Antonio to facilitate a few court filings as the demolition was not being performed in accordance with the permits for a historic structure. In late May after losing in court the conservation society opted to end its fight to save the building. At this point the iconic architectural panels were destroyed on three sides thus nothing really left to save.
Early on in the demolition process the contractor started outside with the flag plaza which was part of the original 1968 design. As this was outside of the fenced area, I was able to carefully collect one of the granite bricks which lined one of the flag poles thus preserving a piece of the pavilion’s architectural history.
