Historic Hugman River Walk Tour - International Downtown ...

Historic Hugman
River Walk Tour
River Walk Tour
City of San Antonio, Texas
International Downtown Association
2011 Downtown Achievement Awards
Public Space

Introduction
•The San Antonio River
Walk is a unique linear park
with restaurants, hotels and
shops along the San Antonio
River
•Robert H. H. Hugman was
the visionary architect who is
credited with designing the
River Walk
•The River Walk opened in
1941 featuring 17,000 feet of
sidewalks, 31 stairways,
benches and thousands of
plants & shrubs

Innovation in Limited Space
•Limited public space to tell the history of the River Walk
•Used technology to tell the San Antonio River Walk story and
enhance the visitor experience

Innovation in Technology
•City created free, interactive, self-guided walking tour using Quick
Response (QR) code technology
•Features multiple stops with historical information and photos

Innovation in Design
•Tour highlights are designated by over 50 bronze plaques that
replicate the architectural seal of River Walk architect Robert Hugman
Hugman’s original seal
New bronze plaques

Innovation in Story Telling
River Walk Tour features:
• Identifies original Hugmandesigned
features and
architectural elements
• Includes historical information
about the River Walk along with
historical photographs
• 1.5 hours walking time,
with a distance of 1.75 miles
(one way)
• Audio tour contains excerpts
from Lewis F. Fisher’s “River
Walk: The Epic Story of San
Antonio’s River”

Representation
• Multiple City departments assisted in the project, including
Downtown Operations, Convention & Visitors Bureau, Capital
Improvement Management Services and Historic Preservation Office
• Nonprofit organizations assisted with brochure design and visitor
awareness/assistance for the tour
• Local architect Beaty Palmer Architects designed the bronze seal
replication and produced maps with plaque locations
• Local historian Lewis Fisher provided narrative
• San Antonio Conservation Society and the Institute of Texan
Cultures at the University of San Antonio provided photographs
• Local software designer BiBiSi created the website and QR code
• Mayor Julian Castro provided welcome for the tour

Diversity / Outcome
•Easy to find plaques designate tour highlights
•QR Code located on River Walk directional signage

•Easy to use with a smart phone or pad device
•Only free, interactive self-guided tour of the River Walk
•Printed map also available at the Visitors Center

Outcome - Selected Media
•Kicked off with a press conference, and employed
community partnerships, which generated media attention for
the historic tour

Replication
•QR codes offer way to reach out to the community and highlight a
local treasure
•Incorporate interactive tours and activities to engage a larger
audience
•Low cost tool that is easy to maintain, update, adapt and enhance
as needed and as resources allow
•Employ partnerships with local professionals and stakeholders to
create successful product that is supported by the community

Conclusion
www.hugmantour.com