San Antonio’s Iconic Central Library Turns 30
Published on May 28, 2025
Celebrate with a special ceremony, giveaways, and activities for all ages.
SAN ANTONIO (May 28, 2025) — The iconic, Ricardo Legorreta-designed San Antonio Central Library (600 Soledad St.) is 30 years old. The “Enchilada Red” Library has been the flagship for the San Antonio Public Library (SAPL) and has served millions of residents and visitors since opening its doors on May 20, 1995. In celebration of this milestone, SAPL will host an anniversary celebration and Kickoff to Summer with SAPL full of free activities for the whole family on Saturday, May 31, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The celebration will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a ceremony featuring Mayor Ron Nirenberg, City Manager Erik Walsh, Library Board of Trustees Chair Juspreet Kaur, Library Director Sukrit Goswami, and Former Mayor and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Henry Cisneros. Cisneros was Mayor of San Antonio when voters passed a 1989 bond to fund the construction of Central Library and make sweeping upgrades to the library system.
Following the ceremony, attendees can enjoy free, family-friendly activities for all ages. The event will include a library scavenger hunt (with prizes), crafts, a selfie photo booth, meet-and-greets with SAPL mascot Smarty, guitar performances by classical guitarist Brenda Cervantes, and live DJing by San Antonio-based DJ Despeinada (Bonnie Cisneros). Eventgoers can also receive a free paleta to enjoy as they leave, while supplies last.
San Antonians with a connection to Central Library are encouraged to share their favorite memory by leaving a note on the Community Memory Wall. This large-scale mural of experiences at Central Library will be on display in the lobby. Copies of images, artwork, or other two-dimensional items are also welcome. After the event, these will be archived in SAPL’s Texana and Genealogy Department. Items contributed to the mural will not be returned.
The celebration will also act as SAPL’s official kick-off to Summer with SAPL, the library’s annual series of free programs and activities for all ages in June and July. Visitors can learn about this year’s program lineup and receive the first of eight collectible bookmarks that will be released every Monday through July 22 at all SAPL locations.
The construction of Central Library on the site of the former Sears Building was funded by a $28 million bond, approved by voters in 1989, and an additional $10 million raised by the San Antonio Public Library Foundation. As the result of an architectural design competition in July of 1991, the team of renowned Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta, in partnership with Sprinkle Robey Architects and Johnson-Dempsey & Associates of San Antonio, were selected to design the building.
Construction began in July 1993, and the Central Library opened to the public on May 20, 1995. The brightly colored, 240,000 square foot Library changed the face of downtown San Antonio. Today Central Library is a beloved point of pride for San Antonians and a dynamic place to gather, engage one’s imagination, and embrace a world of ideas through books, music, movies, events, art, and more.
More information about Central Library’s 30th Anniversary Celebration is available on the Library’s events calendar.
For general information about San Antonio Public Library, including locations and services, visit the library website. Library staff are also available by phone at 210-207-2500 or by chat.