lewis: we are standing on the historic part of the san antonio riverwalk, which developed into one of not something that started out to be back in the 1700s, when san antonio was established. this was

. >> 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.

lewis: we are standing on the historic part of the san antonio riverwalk, which developed into one of the world's great linear parks. it is not something that started out to be back in the 1700s, when san antonio was established. this was the major source of water for the residents of the city. there were various irrigation ditches that came from it and furnished water to the growing community. as the city grew, the railroad came in the 1870's and the population exploded. gravity driven water systems were not working. just say could not get water to run over a hill. so a new water system was established with artesian wells. when drilled into the ground, took water from the ground and they lowered the water table. so the san antonio river was frequently going dry. at that point, in 1914, the city created a park through downtown along what was to be the riverwalk. a park and plantings, not too much else. which was here for about 25 years. with the wpa a project was , initiated to develop the riverwalk. an architect, robert husband, came up with a design that would give a fanciful appear

. >> 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 gen