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The Cultural District of San Angelo, Texas, contains several cultural attractions suitable for all ages. It’s located just south of the downtown area.
Concho River
The Cultural District is separated from downtown San Angelo by the Concho River. Concho translates to “shell” in Spanish. The river was named for the abundance of mussels that reportedly produced gem-quality pearls.
Along the Concho River, locals and visitors can enjoy four miles of trails along the San Angelo River Walk, parks such as the Bosque, a nine-hole golf course, and the Bill Aylor Sr. Memorial RiverStage. The Bosque includes miniature golf, volleyball, pedal boats, and other recreational activities. You can also walk across the Celebration Bridge.
San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts
Just south of the river is the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts. It was founded in 1981 and opened in 1985 in the historic Quartermaster’s Building at nearby Fort Concho, which is covered in another post. The current building, which is shaped like a covered wagon or a saddle, opened in September 1999. The award-winning museum features a growing permanent collection and has hosted several important traveling exhibitions. It’s open daily except Mondays and adult admission is US$2 (as of April 2024). Unfortunately, we didn’t have a chance to visit.
Municipal Swimming Pool
Across the street from the museum is the Municipal Swimming Pool. The main building was constructed in 1938 and opened on April 29, 1939. It was designed by architect John Becker in the Pueblo Revival style and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
Old Town
Along one block of Orient Street is the Old Town Historic District. It features a handful of historic homes and buildings relocated from other parts of the city for preservation purposes. They’re dated between the late 1880s and early 1900s.
Railway Museum of San Angelo
The Railway Museum of San Angelo sits along the railroad tracks in the former Texas headquarters and depot of the Kansas City, Mexico, and Orient Railroad. The building was constructed between 1909 and 1910 and was the largest building in town at that time. The railway line was purchased by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in 1928 and served the city until the 1980s. Locals saved the building from demolition in the late 1980s and restored it to its original splendor. The Railway Museum opened in 1997 and features railroad artifacts, historical exhibits, photographs, and model railways. It’s open Friday through Sunday and adult admission is US$5 (as of April 2024). We weren’t able to visit.
Lone Wolf Bridge
Finally, after visiting Fort Concho, we headed south to the Lone Wolf Bridge. It was built in 1921 to replace an earlier bridge constructed in 1888 and spans 152 feet over the Concho River. It has been converted to a pedestrian-only bridge and is popular for its “locks of love”. The bridge is said to be haunted by the victims of a 1936 flood as well as the spirits of a Kiowa chief and his son killed by the Fort Concho cavalry in 1873.
