Old location of the main library (San Antonio, Center: lease, houses, tenant)

[OzzyRules]

Does anyone know where the library was located during the 1980's?

I've seen the article in Wikipedia but I'm not sure I can trust it. It says that it was on Main Street. But I also remember that you could look out the window to the Riverwalk when you went down to the lower level. Looking at maps, that doesn't seem possible...unless the lower level extended for another entire block under the ground.

I used to swear that it was on Market Street near St Mary's. (Southeast corner.) That building is on the Riverwalk also.

The last time I went to the location in mind was probably the early 1990's.

[catriona]

I thought I remember the old library being on St. Mary's. We used to take the St Mary's bus from the southside to the library on weekends and during the summer. I googled it and found this:

International Center officially opens | Article from La Prensa de San Antonio | HighBeam Research

This article from 1998's La Prensa announcing the opening of the new International Center states that the center is located in what used to be the main library, It gives the address as 206 S. St. Mary's.

[xsa210tx]

Born and raised here in SA, my Dad had taken us to the "old" library when we were kids and even as late as 1994/1995ish I remember going there! It was shortly after that when they closed it for good.

It's located in the building that houses Biga on the Banks, (Market and St Mary's) that sushi restaurant place, and some other offices and stuff are inside the building.

But yea, even to this day, you'll hear people say when giving directions...."it's over there down the block from the 'old' library."

[OzzyRules]

Thanks very much! That makes so much sense. That's exactly where I thought it was located.

Below is what I found in Wikipedia (which placed it on Main just north of Main Plaza).

"Previous buildings

"The previous Central Library building at 131 S Main Street was renovated and reopened in 1998. The building, which is located on the River Walk, was renamed the International Center and is primarily used as office space. It houses the Department of International Affairs, San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau, Trade Commission of Mexico-BancoMext, Casa Tamaulipas, and Casa Nuevo Leonthe as well as the headquarters for the building's primary tenant, the North American Development Bank.

"The original San Antonio Public Library building, which backs up to the Riverwalk at 210 Market Street, served as the main library from 1930 to 1968, and was from 1968 to 2005 the home of the Hertzberg Circus Museum. In 2006, it was leased to the National Western Art Foundation and is undergoing renovation preparatory to housing the Dolph and Janie Briscoe Western Art Museum."

[wCat]

This Wiki info is incorrect. The previous library (now referred to as the Old Library was located at the SW corner of St Marys' and E Market St.) Nothing remains of that original building.

The OLD "Old Library" (The Carnegie Library), now the Hertzberg Museum was even further West on Market St. That building still stands.

NEITHER of these "old" library's were ever located on Main.

I realize I'm repeating some info that is already stated, but often the confusion is because there were TWO OLD libraries that were both on Market Street.

Doesn't Wiki have a feature where you can dispute or offer information to correct what has been submitted?

[OzzyRules]

Originally Posted by wCat

The previous library (now referred to as the Old Library was located at the SW corner of St Marys' and E Market St.) Nothing remains of that original building.

Are you saying the building is gone? I thought that was the corner because of the way the building there looks.

[wCat]

Originally Posted by OzzyRules

Are you saying the building is gone? I thought that was the corner because of the way the building there looks.

Yes..the "2nd" old library is now the :"International Building" as someone mentioned where Biga's on the Banks Restarurant is located. The footprint of the original building might remain but it was pretty much razed to the street level.

I'm not sure what you mean by they way the building there looks?

[OzzyRules]

What I'm asking is, was the library demolished? I don't know what you mean by footprint.

I thought it looked like the old library. But I only went there once or twice.

[OzzyRules]

Okay, so I see you are saying they demolished the building. I think there is another similar looking building on that same corner, on Market. It looks like the library also. I thought *that* was the old library.

[wCat]