Tower of the Americas
| Tower of the Americas | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Observation tower |
| Location | San Antonio, Texas], U.S. |
| Coordinates | 29°25′08″N 98°29′01″W / 29.418888°N 98.483611°W |
| Construction started | August 10, 1966 |
| Opening | April 6, 1968 |
| Owner | City of San Antonio |
| Management | City of San Antonio and Landry's Restaurants |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 750 ft (230 m) |
| Roof | 622 ft (190 m) |
| Top floor | 579 ft (176 m) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Ford, Powell & Carson |
| Structural engineer | Feigenspan and Pinnell |
.jpg){kind=link}
The Tower of the Americas is a 750-foot (229-meter) observation tower-restaurant located in the Hemisfair district in the southeastern portion of Downtown San Antonio, Texas, United States. The tower was designed by San Antonio architect O'Neil Ford and was built as the theme structure of the 1968 World's Fair, HemisFair '68. Originally known as 'HemisFair Tower', it was ultimately named 'the Tower of the Americas' as a result of a name-the-tower contest created by the executive committee. Sixty-eight people submitted the name by which the tower is now known.
It was the tallest observation tower in the United States from 1968 until 1996, when the Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas was completed. The tower is the tallest occupiable structure in San Antonio, and it is the 30th-tallest occupiable structure in Texas.
The tower is located in the middle of the former HemisFair '68 site and has an observation deck, accessible by elevator for a fee. There is also a lounge and revolving restaurant at the top of the tower, providing panoramic views of the city.