To celebrate its founding by Spanish missionaries in 1718, San Antonio threw itself party after party throughout 2018. Fortunately, not all of the celebrations were ephemeral. Public art dedicated during the Tricentennial now permanently graces our fair city. Here are five of my favorites:

• “¡Adelante San Antonio!,” a three-part mural at the San Antonio International Airport created by local artists Suzy Gonzalez and Michael Menchaca, chronicles San Antonio’s 300-year history and culture.
• “Alas de México” (“Wings of Mexico”) by Mexican artist Jorge Marín is a gift from the citizens of Mexico City to the citizens of San Antonio. Located near the base of Hemisfair Tower, it has quickly become one of the most Instagrammed spots in San Antonio.
• “San Antonio Street Art Initiative,” located under Interstate 35 at Quincy/St. Mary’s, features colorful images by 16 local artists on 20-foot tall concrete freeway columns. Perfect for photographs.
• “Tribute to Freedom” by local artist George Schroeder is the tallest metal sculpture in Texas. Located outside of Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, the artwork pays tribute to all five branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, fitting for “Military City USA,” a registered trademark of the City of San Antonio.
• “Tricentennial Clock,” a kinetic sculpture by Ansen Seale, is in the 1883 Roatzch-Griesenbeck-Arciniega House in the shadow of the Alamodome. The work highlights the passage of time into the future while honoring the past.

Denise Barkis Richter, Ph.D., has been blogging about San Antonio since June of 2010. Follow her at facebook.com/SanAntonioTourist so that you’ll never miss a post. Her love affair with the Alamo City began at Hemisfair in 1968. She moved to San Antonio in 1979 as an 18-year-old college student, and San Antonio has been home ever since. For even more ideas of fun things to do and see in San Antonio, visit Barnes & Noble, The Twig or Whole Earth Provision Co. to purchase Denise’s book, “100 Things To Do in San Antonio Before You Die” . Denise completed certification to become a professional tour guide in 2019. Please contact her at sanantoniotourist at gmail dot com if you’d like for her to design/lead a fabulous San Antonio experience for you!