The land that is now Lions Field used to be a pasture for George W. Brackenridge’s collection of exotic animals, including buffalo and elk! In 1906, Brackenridge sold the property, and it stayed in private hands until 1916, when the City took it over. It stayed undeveloped until 1923, when the Lions Club of San Antonio, the largest Lions Club in the world, chose this spot to build a playground as a gift to the city.

The iconic landmark at Lions Field is a life-sized lion sculpture sitting on a stone pedestal. This incredible lion, designed and carved by Louis Rodriguez, stands 8 feet tall and is 14 feet long, made from beautiful Italian marble. It’s been a landmark on Broadway since 1925! Sadly, the lion was knocked off its pedestal and lost its legs and tail when a tree fell on it during the July 2002 floods. But after being gone for six months, it was restored by Lupe Rodriguez (Louis’ nephew), and now it’s back where it belongs. Lions Field continues to be an active spot for recreation, bringing history and fun together!

Just south of the Sunken Garden Theater, you’ll find the Tuesday Musical Club, also called the Anna Hertzberg Memorial Music Center. This place has some serious history—it was founded in 1901 by Anna Hertzberg (wife of Eli Hertzberg) and was built as a spot for musical performances. The building itself is a unique, rectangular structure with a curved entry portico and a one-and-a-half-story auditorium and stage.

Designed by Atlee B. Ayres and Robert M. Ayres, the auditorium can hold up to 300 people. The building has a clean, simple look with multi-pane metal windows, cast concrete hood moldings over the doors, and busts of three musicians (whose identities remain a mystery) set high on the north and south sides. Concrete stairs lead into the building from all directions, making it easy to access and giving it a grand, welcoming feel. This spot is a blend of great music history and cool architectural design!

This 10-acre park is a quiet spot tucked between Mulberry Avenue to the north, the San Antonio River to the east, private property to the west, and Huisache Avenue to the south. It’s filled with trees but has no standing buildings, giving it a peaceful, open feel. Along Mulberry Avenue, you’ll find an old cedar post fence that marks a historic horse trail, which used to lead to a stable on the park’s west side. The stable, which was on private property, closed and was torn down in the late 1990s.

Avenue A runs south from Mulberry Avenue, winding between the golf course and the river’s east bank. Back in the day, it used to stretch further east through the golf course and connect to River Road (which used to be called Memorial Drive) on the west side of the river, with a low water crossing at Woodlawn Avenue. But in the late 1960s, the road was closed through the golf course, and now it ends right at the river.

Even though the old river crossing was shut down years ago, the concrete structure is still standing strong! Today, it’s a favorite spot for pedestrians and fishermen. If you look closely, you can find a faint stamp in the concrete that reads, “NYA 1939,” a reminder of the people who built it during the New Deal era.

Just a short walk south of the pump house along Avenue B, you’ll find a small, square stone building that looks a bit mysterious. This little structure is believed to have housed an electrically powered pump, much like Electric Pump Station #3, which sits just north of the upper pump house. The building has metal casement windows on two sides and a flat roof, giving it a simple but solid look.

If you look closely, there’s a plaque on the building that reads: “City Water Board, Brackenridge Park Electric Station #2, January 1939,” and lists the names of some key figures like Conrad A. Goeth (Chair), Lamar G. Seeligson, and James A. Gallagher, as well as the Mayor, C.K. Quin. It’s a quiet reminder of the park’s history and the people who helped shape it!