This week marked 55 years since HemisFair '68 opened in San Antonio.
While the World's Fair left enduring landmarks in SA — the Tower of the Americas, Institute of Texan Cultures and Convention Center, to name a few — many of the event's offerings were packed up when it ended on Oct. 6, 1968.
These vintage photos show what it was like when HemisFair was in full swing. The shots document attractions ranging from the iconic monorail and skyride to tech demonstrations and carnival fun on Fiesta Island.
In addition to crowds of regular visitors, celebrities of the time, including Princess Grace of Monaco, Pat Boone, President Lyndon B. Johnson, Glen Campbell and others, appeared at HemisFair.
All photos and caption courtesy of UTSA Libraries Digital Collections.
These vintage photos show what it was like at HemisFair '68 in San Antonio
By San Antonio Current Staff on Fri, Apr 7, 2023 at 11:25 am
Scroll down to view images
UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Eastman Kodak Pavilion
UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
HemisFair '68 Gulf TouRide, gasoline-powered mini sport cars that travel at seven miles per hour over a model freeway with landscaped countryside and traffic controls, sponsored by Gulf Oil Company.
UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Fiesta Island at HemisFair'68. Image shows one of eighteen major rides in this rides and games area
UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Mini-monorail passes the flags outside the Institute of Texan Cultures (Texas Pavilion)
UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Marching band on Goliad Street
UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / San Antonio Express-News Photograph Collection
Young woman eating a bunuelo from Goliad Food Plaza (the food cluster)
UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / San Antonio Express-News Photograph Collection
HemisFair'68 visitor regulates the sound of Francois and Bernard Baschet's "A Musical Fountain"
UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / San Antonio Express-News Photograph Collection
Ballet folklorico de Mexico
UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / San Antonio Express-News Photograph Collection
Ballet folklorico de Mexico
UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
A pavilion guide assists a visitor who is using an IBM 2260 video display terminal to play a question-and-answer game in the IBM Durango Pavilion
UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Glen Campbell at HemisFair 1968
UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Lagoon cruise of waterways in Convention Center area
UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Fiesta Island, the rides and games area at HemisFair'68, with carousel at right
UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Fiesta Island, rides and games area at HemisFair'68 showing one of the eighteen rides
UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Skyride at HemisFair'68. Ride was one-way south down the longest axis of the HemisFair site from Las Plazas del Mundo to Institute of Texan Cultures
UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / San Antonio Light Photograph Collection
"El Trenecito," a trackless train that tours the grounds of HemisFair'68
UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
HemisFair '68 U.S. Pavilion Confluence Theater
UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Bird's-eye view of lake at HemisFair'68
UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Jack Benny poses with official HemisFair'68 hostesses
UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Experimental car on exhibit at HemisFair'68
Chava Communications
Read our sister publications
© 2024 San Antonio Current
