Houston Street is a pedestrian-friendly thoroughfare in the central business district of San Antonio. Established in the 1700s, it’s one of the oldest streets in the city. This commercial boulevard has plenty of clothing stores, trendy restaurants, and theatres lining its streets.
Houston Street is adjacent to The Alamo, a bullet-riddled mission that holds great importance in Texan history. As the street is close to where the battle between Mexicans and Texans took place in 1836, several buildings were damaged by cannon fire during the war.
Houston Street in San Antonio - one of the highlights of 10 Most Popular Streets in San Antonio (Read all about San Antonio here)
photo by Michael Barera (CC BY-SA 4.0) modified
What are the highlights and features of Houston Street?
Houston Street is very walkable, so strolling the streets is one of the best things to do. You can start your day with a coffee from local favourites Revolución Coffee + Juice or La Panadería Bakery Café, before exploring what this boulevard has to offer.
One of the most popular attractions on Houston Street is The Buckhorn Saloon & Museum. At this family-friendly venue, you can learn about Texas cowboy culture, see an exotic animal collection and authentic Texas Ranger artefacts, as well as pick up Old West-themed gifts and souvenirs.
Casa Salazar Mexican Gifts is a women-led store on East Houston Street. The 2-storey building houses an art gallery and showroom, where you can shop for a wide range of gifts and home décor. Most items are designed with Mexican, Spanish Colonial, and Southwestern influences.
Be sure to check out Interwoven, a colourful mural at the intersection of East Houston and Navarro streets. Designed by contemporary artist Jennifer Khoshbin, it depicts 5 seamstresses from Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Turkey, Honduras, and Haiti. Each figure has distinctive clothing styles, with new foliage and leaves and twigs representing her life in San Antonio.
The Charline McCombs Empire Theatre is one of the oldest performance venues in San Antonio, having opened its doors in 1913. The 4-storey theatre has excellent acoustics and lighting systems, with a diverse line-up consisting of nationally touring musicians, comedians, and Broadway productions.
You can also catch excellent shows at the Majestic Theatre, located just around the corner of the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre. The historic venue dates back to the early 1920s. It frequently hosts children's theatre, comedians, and nationally touring concerts, among other live entertainment.
photo by Nightryder84 (CC BY-SA 3.0) modified
Good to know about Houston Street
Houston Street is a great vantage point for the San Pedro Creek Culture Park, a picturesque public space on the western edge of Downtown San Antonio. It’s a great place to check out gorgeous art installation and water features, as well as take part in free community classes.
Houston Street is located in central San Antonio, which puts you within walking distance of notable landmarks. If you want to enjoy some of the city's best restaurants and nightlife venues, the San Antonio River Walk is just a 5-minute walk away. Families can see quirky exhibits at Ripley's Believe It or Not! and Ripley's Haunted Adventure.
photo by Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0) modified