| |
| Aerial
photo courtesy of Paul Turner |
| The
courthouse annex.
The side with awnings faces the courthouse.
TE Photo,
9-01 |
San
Marcos Landmarks/Attractions
Hays
County Courthouse
The 1908 courthouse by Page, and the 1882 courthouse
by Ruffini
Former
Hays County JailsAquarena
Springs - Recently the Springs have undergone an extensive updating and
cosmetic overhaul. Exhibits explain the springs, and their flora and fauna. Glass
bottom boat ride. Bird watching on the "Wetlands Walkway" along San
Marcos River. The facility is now run by Southwest Texas State University. 800-999-9767,
512-245-7570
Belvin
Street District: just a few blocks west of the square - a fine collection
of 19th century houses. Not open to the public - drive-by viewing only. Tour of
Homes first weekend in May.
The
Former City Hall and Fire Station: (c. 1915) One half block north of the square.
Spanish Revival building typical of the period when fire stations shared space
with other community services. Shiner
and Hallettsville have
similar buildings. Commemorative
Air Force Central Texas Wing - at the San Marcos Municipal Airport. Vintage
military aricrafts in the 1943 vintage wooden hangar, and museum. 512-396-1943.
Admissions.
Parks
- 21 city parks , including the Children's Park along the river.San
Marcos' Living History Trolley Tour
- 512-396-3739 for reservation. Admissions.San
Marcos River WalkwaySan
Marcos River Recreation
- San Marcos City Park. 512-396-5466Southwest
Texas State University: Founded in 1899 - opened in 1903 - as Southwest Texas
Normal School. On the hill North and East of the square on the 11 acres originally
deeded for it. Wittliff
Gallery of Southwestern & Mexican Photography and Southwestern Writers Collection
- Albert B. Alkek Library, Southwest Texas State University, 512-245-2313.Wonder
World - Earthquake-formed
cave. 512-392-3760. Admissions.
San
Marcos Hotels
Book Your Hotel Here & Save |
 |
History in a Pecan
Shell
The county was named for Texas Ranger Captain Jack Hays - The town after
the river (named on St. Mark's Day 1689).
A timeline of significant
events in the history of San Marcos:
1755: Spanish build the short-lived
San Xavier Mission and Presidio San Francisco Xavier
1808: The Spanish
Governor of Texas attempts another colony, but floods and Indian raids cause them
to abandon efforts in 1812.
1846: First settlers arrive and settle
near the confluence of the Blanco and San Marcos Rivers.
1848: Hays
County is created and San Marcos becomes a stagecoach stop on the Austin-San
Antonio run
1860: Cannonville (named after the same William Cannon
the south Austin road is named after) wins an election for county seat, but records
are never transferred and William Cannon's death ends the rivalry.
1869:
Second courthouse is constructed.
1881: The International -Great Northern
Railroad reaches San Marcos - population reaches 2,335
1882: F.E. Ruffini
builds the third Hays
County courthouse (as well as the former Blanco County Courthouse in Blanco
in 1885)
1903: Southwest Texas Normal School (for teachers) opens -
later becomes Southwest Texas University
1973: Hays County and San
Marcos become part of the Austin Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area. By the
mid-1980s at least 20 percent of Hays County's labor force worked in Travis County.
San Marcos itself was estimated to have a population of 25,000 and 20,000 students,
for a total of 45,000.
1994: Southwest Texas State University takes
over management of Aquarena
Springs. Extensive remodeling has just recently completed. |
 |
Bird's
Eye View of San Marcos
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
NW Corner of Square
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
San
Marcos in the early 1900s
Photo courtesy texasoldphotos.com |
San
Marcos City Hall and Fire Station
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
|
A Trip to San
MarcosSwimming
to Mexico
"...Aquarena Springs Drive will become C.M. Allen Parkway. Continue past
Sessoms and University Drive. On your left before you get to Hopkins is the San
Marcos Convention & Visitors Bureau. 888-200-5620. The bureau has an
excellent "Windshield Tour" of San Marcos listing 29 historic
buildings and their histories, including ..." more
RR
32 - "Devil's Backbone"
- Scenic DriveSan
Marcos Hotels > Book Your Hotel Here & Save
San
Marcos, Texas Forum
Morris
Ranch & other places
My wife love going to old places......About
2 weeks ago we went to the Austin,
San Marcos area (Hill Country)
We found Morris
Ranch,....We went on to San Marcos, there we found an old hospital
that had at one time been converted into a college fraternity house, but now is
abandonded with a somewhat spooky history of a fraternity ritual that had gone
wrong ,maybe true maybe not...( I read about it in a book called Weird Texas,
check it out sometime its a cool book)........Also we found an
abandonded saw mill outside of Luling
....As usual I can't say enough good about your website...who knows where we will
go next.......... Thanks. - Rodney Stegall, November 08, 2005San
Marcos Hotels > Book Your Hotel Here & Save |
| San
Marcos street scene
TE Photo |
San Marcos
Tourist Information San
Marcos Convention and Visitor's Bureau:
I-35 (EXIT 206) 1-888-200-5620, 512-393-5930
Mon-Sat 9AM - 5 PM, Sun 10AM-4PM
Website: www.sanmarcostexas.com
San
Marcos Hotels
> Book Your Hotel Here & Save |
| Church
steeple
TE Photo, 9-01 |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history and vintage/historic
photos of their town, please contact
us. | |
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