Tower of the Americas
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Tower of the Americas is a 750-foot (229 m) observation tower with a restaurant in San Antonio, Texas. Tower of the Americas, designed by San Antonio architect O'Neil Ford, was built as the theme structure of the 1968 World's Fair, HemisFair '68.
Construction of the tower began on August 9, 1966 and was completed in approximately 18 months, just in time for the opening ceremonies for the fair held on April 6, 1968. The tophouse of the building was constructed at ground level and hoisted to the top of the poured concrete shaft. As the tophouse was being hoisted into place, on October 30, 1967 some of the cables used to hoist the tophouse snapped leaving the tophouse resting on and precariously tilted on the Tower’s shaft. Eventually, oil field pipes were used in lieu of cables to complete the job.
The tower was the tallest observation tower in the United States from 1968 until 1996, when the Las Vegas Stratosphere Tower was completed.
The tower is located in the middle of HemisFair Park and has an observation deck that is accessible by elevator for a fee. In addition, there is also a lounge and revolving restaurant at the top of the tower that provides panoramic views of the city.
In 2004, Landry's Restaurants, Inc. won the bid for a 15-year lease to manage and operate the property for the City of San Antonio. Landry's undertook an extensive $8 million renovation of the existing restaurant and lounge and observation deck and added a 4-D film "ride" called "Skies Over Texas," that gives the history of Texas in a film format. Additionally, Landry's spent another $4 million to add approximately 200% more space for ground level attractions such as a gift shop and cafe. Renovations were completed and the tower re-opened with the new Eyes Over Texas Restaurant, Bar 601 and the Flags Over Texas observation deck on June 21, 2006. The restaurant rotates in a circular motion slowly as you eat.
In September 2007 Landry's converted the Eyes Over Texas Restaurant into one of its Chart House outlets.
Prior to Landry's, Frontier Enterprises (owner of San Antonio-based Jim's Restaurants) operated the Tower of the Americas' restaurant for more than three decades.
Building heights:
- 750 ft (229 m) to top of the antenna.
- 622 ft (190 m) to top of roof.
- 579 ft (176 m) to indoor observation deck.
- 560 ft (170 m) to outdoor observation deck.
- 550 ft (168 m) to restaurant and stationary level.
Since 1970 the roof has hosted a 30 meter tall tapered steel mast, used as support for three FM antennas; 101.9 KQXT (then known as KCOR-FM), 102.7 KJXK (then KTFM), and 104.5 KZEP (then KITE-FM). Transmitters are located between the public areas of the observation deck and the revolving restaurant in equipment bays along with air conditioners and plumbing.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Tower of the Americas restaurant
- Emporis: Tower of the Americas
- Tower of the Americas in the Structurae database
- San Antonio Express-News article reporting about the renovations
[edit] References
- "A Guide to the San Antonio Fair, Inc., Records, 1963-1995 (Bulk 1964-1968)". Texas Archival Resources Online. Retrieved Feb. 9, 2006.
- Tower of the Americas is at coordinates Coordinates:
| Preceded by Elm Place |
Tallest Building in Texas 1968—1974 229m |
Succeeded by Renaissance Tower |
| Preceded by Tower Life Building |
Tallest Building in San Antonio 1968—Present 229m |
Succeeded by None |
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