Established in 1973 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Preservation Month is co-sponsored by local preservation groups, state agencies, and business and civic organizations across the country.

The City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) hosts events throughout May and curates a comprehensive calendar of Preservation Month partner events, from scavenger hunts to hands-on workshops and more!

Thank you for celebrating with us, San Antonio!

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Amazing Preservation Race

Friday, May 3, check-in at 5:30 pm, race starts at 6:30 pm
Legacy Park, 103 W Houston

OHP Signature Event

A Purple skyscraper with pink arms and legs running across the words The Amazing Preservation Race

The City’s Office of Historic Preservation invites you to face off in the ultimate urban scavenger hunt: The Amazing Preservation Race!  The only race of its kind – think CBS’s Amazing Race but in historic downtown San Antonio. Teams of 4 must follow clues and complete challenges to fill their passports before racing to the finish. The first team to cross the finish line with their completed passport wins! 

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Paseo Por El Westside

Saturday, May 4, 2024, 9 am - 3 pm

Partner: Esperanza Center for Peace & Justice

Free, no registration required!

Event Website

Come and celebrate San Antonio Westside history, culture and people with Paseo por El Westside on Saturday, May 4, at the Rinconcito de Esperanza (816 S. Colorado). 

paseo por el westside

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Preserving Our Stories: A Celebration of African American Oral History in San Antonio

Saturday, May 4, 11 am - 1 pm

Partner: Carver Library

Free, registration encouraged!

Welcome to Preserving Our Stories: A Celebration of African American Oral History in San Antonio at Carver Library.

May is Preservation Month. In honor of the occasion, Carver Branch Library celebrates the legacy of African American cultural heritage preserved and passed down through stories documenting a centuries-old presence in the Alamo City. Included is a luncheon and pop-up exhibit that tells the story of the community in images.

Guests:

Claudia Guerra, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility, City of San Antonio

Charles Gentry, Ph.D., Office of Historic Preservation, City of San Antonio

This event is a unique opportunity to connect with the stories that make San Antonio's African American heritage so special. Don't miss out on this chance to celebrate and preserve our collective narrative. See you there!

For more information, phone 210-207-9180

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Circular Economy Happy Hour

Friday, May 10, 5:30 - 7 pm (ish)

Partner: Circular San Antonio


Location: Burleson Yard, 430 Austin St
Free, Registration Encouraged!

Join Circular San Antonio and the City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation for a casual Circular Economy Happy Hour on Friday, May 10, 5:30 - 7:00pm at Burleson Yard Beer Garden! Meet and mingle with fellow local reuse enthusiasts from different industries including the built environment, transportation, food systems, and more.

Circular Economy Happy Hour May 10

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Silk Road Cultural Heritage District Community Listening Session

Saturday, May 11, 10 am - 12 pm

OHP Event

The Office of Historic Preservation is hosting a community meeting to talk about the new Cultural Heritage District in District 8! Join the conversation. Refreshments will be provided.

five young women holding candles

 

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Cemetery Stewards Workshop

Saturday, May 11, 9 am - 12 pm

OHP Event

Cemetery stewards will complete marker cleaning in the Historic Eastside Cemeteries in Cemetery #2. Interested participants should RSVP at parkvolunteer@sanantonio.gov

Cemetery Steward Program

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Women in Architecture & Historic Resources Social Hour

Tuesday, May 14, 5:30 - 7:30 pm

Partner: AIA San Antonio

Location: Indeco NEW Showroom, 1901 N. New Braunfels

Registration Encouraged - AIA Membership NOT required

Attention all preservation designers / architects! We invite you to showcase your work at our social hour! Send us a 3-page PDF of your work (single or multiple projects) to belinda@aiasa.org. We will include it in a slide show that will display at the social. We may even ask you to present about your work at the event!

line drawing of a large roman aqueduct

 

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MACRI 5th Anniversary Celebration Luncheon

Wednesday, May 15, 11 am - 1 pm

Partner: Mexican American Civil Rights Institute

Tickets Required

Location: Westin San Antonio North 

Launched in 2019, the Mexican American Civil Rights Institute (MACRI) is the only national history initiative dedicated to preserving and disseminating Mexican American civil rights history. Based in San Antonio, Texas, the cradle of Mexican American civil rights. Highlights of our fifth-anniversary luncheon will include special guests, and announcements about our ambitious plan to shine a spotlight on San Antonio as a national destination to learn about Mexican American civil rights history, including our rich local history as the birthplace of many significant Mexican American civil rights organizations and leaders, as well as the larger national story of Mexican American civil rights endeavors across the Southwest, the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest, the New South, and beyond. Learn about how we plan to grow MACRI into a national center housing significant historical archives and collections, preserving the legacy of Mexican American civil rights endeavors for generations to come, and offering an unparalleled opportunity for the public to learn about this vital history.

MACRI logo on a blue background with white stars

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Become a Citizen Historian

Thursday, May 16, 12 pm to 2 pm

OHP Event, Free, Registration Required

Ever wonder how genealogists and historians find information about historic places, people, and events in San Antonio? Join OHP’s Jessica Anderson for an online workshop that introduces the tools of the trade to help anyone become a citizen historian! 



PM - Citizen Historian

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MACRI Symposium 2024

Friday, May 17 - Saturday, May 18

Partner: Mexican American Civil Rights Institute

Free, registration required!

Get inspired by Mexican American civil rights! Join us live at the San Antonio Central Library or from the comfort of your home.

MACRI logo on a blue background with white stars

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Preservation Month Seminar

Saturday, May 18th, 1 pm

Partner: Conservation Society of San Antonio

Tickets Required

The Architecture of Modern American Synagogues, 1950s-1960s, featuring author Dr. Anat Geva, Texas A&M University

AIA San Antonio - 1344 S Flores

Female author holding book featuring Mid Century Modern synagogues

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Polo Homecoming

Sunday, May 19th, 2 pm - 7 pm

Partner: Brackenridge Park Conservancy

Tickets Required - General Admission & VIP Opportunities Available

In honor of Brackenridge’s polo history, the Conservancy is partnering with First Tee - Greater San Antonio and San Antonio Polo Club to host an exhibition polo match in celebration of the park's 125th year. 

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Circular Chats: Predicting Demolition and Code Enforcement

Monday, May 20, 5:30 - 7:30 pm

Partner: Circular San Antonio

Loction: AIA San Antonio, 1344 S Flores

Free, Registration Required!

Developing processes for assessing demolition and code enforcement can help cities to plan for neighborhood preservation, infill, and adaptive reuse, as well as deconstruction. Join us for our May Circular Chat to hear how these processes contribute a circular city with a dive into the research from Esteban López Ochoa, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Urban and Regional Planning Program Lead from the School of Architecture and Planning at UTSA.

Photo of Esteban Lopez Ochoa, featured speaker for Circular Chats: Predicting Demolition and Code Enforcement

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Heritage & Horizons: Women in Preservation

Tuesday, May 21, 5:30 pm

Co-hosted by OHP and Ford, Powel & Carson Architects and Planners

Location: Culture Commons Gallery, 115 Plaza de Armas

Free and open to the public!

Please join us for a lecture and panel discussion on the legacy and future of women in historic preservation. Located at the Culture Commons Gallery (115 Plaza de Armas, San Antonio, TX 78205). Light refreshments will be provided.

Photos of professional women

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Tejas Tastebuds: Aguas Frescas

Tuesday, May 21, 6 pm

Co-hosted by OHP, World Heritage Office, Bexar County Clerk, and the Texas Historical Commission

Location: Casa Navarro State Historic Site, 228 S Laredo St.

Free, Registration Required

Join us as we explore San Antonio's culinary heritage by highlighting traditional dishes dating back to the 1870s. This event will feature a live demonstration and tasting. Advanced registration required. 

Large clear plastic jug full of brightly colored aguas frescas including orange pink and white

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All-Americas Sister Cities Summit

Tuesday, May 28 - Friday, May 31

Partner: Sister Cities International

Registration Required

Location: Henry B. González Convention Center, 900 E Market St

The All-Americas Sister Cities Summit will advance the shared missions of Sister Cities International and the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and the newly created department of subnational diplomacy. This summit is dedicated to cultivating people-to-people ties to foster mutual understanding and peace with other countries and states.

Teal globe with pink continents All Americas Summit logo

 

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Amazing Preservation Race for Kids

Saturday, July 27, check-in at 8 am, race starts at 8:30 am

OHP Signature Event

Registration, cost is $5 per child

Location: Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair

The Amazing Preservation Race Kids Logo

The City’s Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) invites you to channel your inner superhero and face off at the Amazing Preservation Race for Kids (APR Kids) on Saturday, July 27, at the Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair, 8:00 am – 10:00 am.


The Amazing Preservation Race for Kids is a fun, place-focused scavenger hunt for the whole family that explores San Antonio history and architecture. Join us and discover the many hidden treasures of Hemisfair!


Racers will be given a passport with a map leading them to a series of fun and interactive challenges including an archaeological dig, tower building, and gondola race.


Registration is now open for kids from Pre-K through elementary ages and includes race entry, event t-shirt, and finisher’s medal. Cost is just $5 per child. Registration is limited so don’t delay!