La Villita facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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La Villita Historic District
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 La Villita Historic District
Location in Texas
La Villita Historic District
Location in the United States
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| Location | San Antonio, Texas |
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| Built | 1845 |
| Architectural style | Mission/Spanish Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001350 |
| Added to NRHP | January 20, 1972 |
La Villita Historic Arts Village is a super cool art community right in downtown San Antonio, Texas. It's a place where you can find awesome art galleries, unique shops selling souvenirs, gifts, and cool Mexican folk art. There are also yummy restaurants! La Villita is connected to the famous San Antonio River Walk and its outdoor stage, the Arneson River Theatre. It's super close to other famous spots like the Alamo, the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, and HemisFair Park. It's easy to walk to from most hotels downtown.
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A Glimpse into La Villita's Past
La Villita is on the south bank of the San Antonio River. It was one of the very first neighborhoods in San Antonio! Long ago, Native American people lived here. Later, Spanish soldiers built simple huts called jacales for their families near the Mission San Antonio de Valero (which we now call the Alamo).
From Huts to Homes
In 1819, a big flood washed away most of the huts. After that, people built stronger houses made of adobe (a type of sun-dried brick). Later in the 1800s, people from Germany, France, and Italy moved to La Villita. They became active in business and crafts. You can still see different building styles in La Villita today. These styles show the mix of cultures that lived there.
Saving a Piece of History
In the early 1900s, La Villita became a bit run-down. But during the Great Depression, a big project started to build the River Walk. City leaders, like Mayor Maury Maverick, wanted to save La Villita's history. In 1939, a program called the National Youth Administration helped restore the area. They even offered classes in arts and crafts!
La Villita Today: Art and Fun
Today, La Villita is a lively arts community. It's even listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site. In just one city block, you can find many galleries and shops. They sell amazing art by local artists, including paintings, sculptures, jewelry, pottery, and folk art.
Night in Old San Antonio
Every April, during the Fiesta San Antonio, La Villita hosts a special event called Night in Old San Antonio. It's a huge outdoor festival that lasts four nights! There are tons of booths with different kinds of food, like Sauerkraut Bend and China Town. The narrow streets are decorated with colorful paper flowers and papel picado (cut paper banners). About 85,000 people come to celebrate, many wearing fun costumes and hats. This event helps raise money for the San Antonio Conservation Society.
