Culture

There’s something special about San Antonio. Strolling the Museum Reach on a soft summer night, munching a taco at a festival in historic Market Square, or attending a Mariachi Mass in a 300-year-old Spanish mission, there’s a sense of timelessness where centuries meet and meld in the spirit of place. It’s one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation, but the fast-paced future doesn’t eclipse the past. Visionary leaders and groups like the San Antonio Conservation Society have preserved many of the city’s most historic places and kept them fresh and alive. These places have a magical vibe that led Mark Twain to describe San Antonio as one of the four “unique cities” in America, along with New Orleans, Boston and San Francisco. Local folks wear the distinction with pride. They call it “Puro San Antonio.”

If you have ever admired the historic buildings in downtown San Antonio, walked along the River Walk or visited the famous Mission Trail, you have a very special organization to thank. The Conservation Society of San Antonio is celebrating its first 100 years serving the community,

The Conservation Society of San Antonio would not exist without the leadership and unwavering efforts of Emily Edwards, an artist, art historian and teacher whose love for the history of her hometown led to the creation of this important organization.