San Antonio River Facts for Kids

This page is about the river in U.S. state of Texas. For other uses, see San Antonio River (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids San Antonio River
Map of the San Antonio River and its associated watershed in South Texas.
Other name(s)	Río San Antonio
Country	US
Physical characteristics
Main source	The San Antonio Springs near the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. 715 ft (218 m)
River mouth	Flows into the Guadalupe River, 10 mi northwest of the San Antonio Bay.
Length	240 mi (390 km)
Basin features
Basin size	4,180 sq mi (10,800 km²)

The San Antonio River is an important river that starts in central Texas. It begins from many springs in the city of San Antonio, about 4 miles north of downtown. The river flows southeast through the state. Finally, it joins the Guadalupe River, not far from the San Antonio Bay on the Gulf of Mexico.

The river is 240 miles long. It flows through five counties in Texas: Bexar, Goliad, Karnes, Refugio, and Wilson.

River History
River Features
Images for kids
See also

River History

How the River Got Its Name

The first time the river was written about was in 1535. This was by Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, who was exploring Texas. Later, in 1691, the first governor of Spanish Texas, Domingo Terán de los Ríos, named the river. He named it after San Antonio de Padua.

On June 13, 1691, Governor Terán and his group camped by a stream. It was called Yanaguana by the local people. They renamed the stream "San Antonio" because it was Saint Anthony's Day. Father Damián Massanet was with Governor Terán on this trip.

The Texas Revolution

The San Antonio River was important during the Texas Revolution. Several big fights happened near it.

The Battle of Concepcion was a small fight. Mexican soldiers and Texian fighters shot at each other near a mission.
The Grass Fight happened when Texian fighters thought mules were carrying gold. But the mules were only carrying grass to feed horses!
The Siege of Bexar was a major event. Texian fighters surrounded the town of Bexar. They kept attacking the Mexican stronghold. Finally, the Mexican General Martín Perfecto de Cos gave up.

The San Antonio River, near its start, at the Witte Museum in San Antonio, Texas.

The Goliad Campaign involved 50 Texian fighters. They captured a mission in Goliad that Mexican soldiers were using.
The Battle of the Alamo was a famous fight. About 180 Texian soldiers and volunteers were in a fort. This fort was built around an old Spanish mission. They fought against about 3,000 Mexican troops for 12 days. On the 13th day, the Mexican army took over the fort.

Fiesta River Parade

Every April, during a celebration called Fiesta, a special parade happens. It's called the Texas Cavaliers River Parade. Boats float along the San Antonio River in downtown San Antonio. This parade is very popular. Money from ticket sales helps children's charities.

River Features

Historic Missions

Five important Spanish missions from the 1700s are along the San Antonio River in San Antonio. These include Mission Espada, Mission Concepcion, Mission San José, and Mission San Juan Capistrano.

The most famous mission is the Álamo. Its fort is Presidio San Antonio de Bexar. These five missions in San Antonio are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means they are very important historical places. Other missions, like Presidio La Bahía and Mission Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo de Zúñiga in Goliad, Texas, are also along the southern part of the river.

San Antonio River Walk

The San Antonio River Walk is a major attraction. It's a beautiful path along the river in downtown San Antonio. Many projects have improved the River Walk over the years.

In 2009, the River Walk was made longer to the north. This part is called the Museum Reach. It has cool places like the Pearl Brewery and the San Antonio Museum of Art. In 2013, the Mission Reach part of the River Walk opened in the south. This area has trails for hiking, biking, and paddling.

Hot Wells

In 2015, work began to fix up the old Hot Wells hotel and spa. This historic place is located along the San Antonio River on the south side of the city.