In 1971, the U.S. Department of Commerce which over saw national pavilion released the final report on HemisFair 68′. The report was written for the U.S. Congress pertaining to federal participation in the 1968 World’s Fair. Included in the report was the announcement that the pavilion would be renovated to begin its new permanent roll as San Antonio’s federal courthouse in 1973.
Below are some images of the report (Click for a closer look)
In 1974 the former Confluence Theater began its new role as a multi-story courthouse for the Western District of Texas. The adjoining Confluence Exhibit Hall was renovated into supporting offices, acreage across the street was acquired for use as surface parking lots for the new courthouse.
A few years after the reopening a multi-level federal building was built next to the pavilion along Durango St. where the IBM Durango pavilion and Project Y were located during the fair.
In the late 1970’s, the courthouse was named after San Antonio judge John H. Wood following his assassination. The adjoining annex (originally the U.S. Pavilion Confluence Exhibit Hall) was named after Adrian Spears and used as a training center.
In the mid 2010’s the U.S. Congress passed legislation appropriating funding for a new modern style courthouse to replace the now aging building which had been housing courts for 40 years.
In 2023, the General Services Administration completed the transfer from the former U.S. Pavilion – Confluence Theater to newly constructed facilities on the western edge of downtown San Antonio. This was done as part of a land swap agreement between the City of San Antonio and the General Services Administration.
As of summer 2024, the ownership of the 4.5-acre site had been transferred to the city of San Antonio. One of the Deed restrictions for the theater is that it cannot be demolished.
For the year 2024 the City’s Office of Historic Preservation chose the former pavilion to host their annual Power Prom in October of that year. The event has been held annually since the mid 2000’s to raise funds and public awareness of historic preservation within the San Antonio area.
Below are pictures of the pavilion today. (Click on images for a closer look)
In late 2024 the City of San Antonio announced a new ambitious plan to redevelop the eastern end of the former World’s Fair site into a new 3.5-billion-dollar entertainment district called “Project Marvel”. Included in the proposal is to not only preserve the site of the former U.S. Pavilion complex but have the theater building renovated into a 4,000-seat entertainment venue.
Below is a press rendering of what the pavilion could look like as a new city managed entertainment venue.
Below images Courtesy of City of San Antonio
