>> hire cities tour travels the country, exploring america. 2011, we have been to more than 200 communities across the nation. our staff is staying close to home due to the coronavirus. next, a look at one of our visits. >> we are standing on the historic part of the san antonio riverwalk, which has developed into one of the world's great linear parks. this is not what it started out to be. back in the 1700s when san antonio was first established. this was the major source of water for the city. there were various your negation ditches that came from it.

as the city grew and the railroad came, the population exploded. gravity driven water systems were not working. wasw water system established with artesian wells, which took water from the ground and lowered the water table. the san antonio river was frequently going guy fast-growing dry. the city created a park through downtown for what was to be the riverwalk. it was here for about 25 years. initiated toct was develop the riverwalk. an architect came up with a that would give a

fanciful appearance to the area that would include shops, boats, and colorful walkways that would dress up the river. thatd all right except nobody came down to the riverwalk. it became dangerous. it was not until the world's fair in 1968 that enough hotels a strongt to generate pedestrian traffic to support businesses. of was a lot of commercial development. the riverwalk became successful as we know it. being below the level of the street, it is warmer down here. we have a semi tropical botanical garden and the plantings along the river. not the cool breezes that you have up above.

plants thrive that could not thrive at street level. another hallmark is the cypress trees planted along the banks. these have roots that go down and hold the soil. they can also get very tall. they give a sense of scale. you get a sense of being in a very different environment. the part of the river we are on was originally a loop. it was connected by flood control channels. so the water would not have to come all the way around. this was the historical part of

the riverwalk. about 10 years ago, it was expanded to the north. there are several museums along there. the length of the riverwalk now is about 15 miles. all of thege to starts and stops we have had along the way is that the buildings have evolved and the surroundings have evolved in a haphazard way. appearance give the of a place that was suddenly created in one stroke. it gives a sense of the passage of time and variety. that is much of the charm of the riverwalk. >> you can watch this and other

programs on the history of communities across the country on a website. american history tv is on social media. >> an author discusses his book about the final air battle of the pacific. the book tells a story of a .roup of americans they were attacked over japan. shortly after receiving word the war had ended. the national world war ii museum hosted this event and provided video.