Signature Tours
Every so often, you get an opportunity to experience something extraordinary! Signature Tours provide just that, unlocking doors of the city for you to explore!
Signature Tours allow guests to experience a special aspect of San Antonio’s history that is only available for a limited time.
Tours of historical buildings, societal topics, and San Antonio’s rich culture are presented by expert guides. The goal is to bring focus not only to San Antonio’s history but also to nonprofit organizations that are working to make a difference in the community, with a share of proceeds from the tours benefiting charity.
Alameda Theater
Signature Series
Mar. 29, 2025 - Apr. 27, 2025
Step inside San Antonio’s iconic Alameda Theater to explore its mid-century grandeur and future that shines bright!
Beginning in the Alameda’s lobby, where patrons first glimpsed the theater’s Streamline Moderne elegance, tour participants will visit noteworthy interior areas and floors of the theater and its surrounding Casa de Mexico. Original elements of the building’s design and decor will be on full display. The hallmark murals celebrating Texan and Mexican heritage along the auditorium walls will be brought back to life with blacklight illumination, illustrating mid-century advances that forged together artistry and technology.
Along the way, the tour provides glimpses of history related to the theater’s importance as a landmark of West Downtown – both geographically and culturally. A Spanish-language theater was more than a form of entertainment for San Antonio – it was a significant milestone. The tour explores the history of events and people that helped shaped the identity and experience of Mexican-Americans in San Antonio and beyond, including Gaetano Lucchese and Henry B. González. Also included are stories of legendary performers Jorge Negrete, María Félix, and Cantinflas.
Half of tour profits will go to the Alameda Theater Conservancy (ATC). Overseeing planning, fundraising, and coordination for the theater’s renovation, ATC is a 501(c)3 that is serving a critical role in the project’s success.
Price: $40 per adult. $20 per child/youth (ages 3-17).
Age: All ages. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Language: Tours are available in English and Spanish.
Distance & Accessibility: About 0.25 miles (0.4 km) of easy walking. Every effort is made to make tours accessible to all lovers of history. However, due to constraints of the building’s age and current pre-renovation state, there are four staircases (without elevator access) and limited seating along the route.
Duration: About 2 hours.
Alameda Theater Children’s Tour 🧒
As an intentional effort to make the Alameda Theater’s history accessible and engaging for all generations, these shorter interactive tours are specifically designed for guests ages 6-12. These tours are the first of their kind known to be offered in San Antonio, connecting even the youngest San Antonians with the city’s rich history!
Price: $20 per participant
Age: Ideal for ages 6-12, but all ages of children and youth are welcome. Participants older than 18 must be accompanied by a child who is part of their booking.
Language: Tours are available in English.
Distance & Accessibility: About 0.25 miles (0.4 km) of easy walking. Every effort is made to make tours accessible to all lovers of history. However, due to constraints of the building’s age and current pre-renovation state, there are four staircases (without elevator access) and limited seating along the route.
Duration: About 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Ready to sign up for the Alameda Theater Tour? Book online, and let’s get you confirmed.
This calendar shows real-time availability for the tours. Click on a date shaded in green, and available times will appear below. Click on a time to continue forward with making a booking.
Have an idea for a future Signature Tour?
We are always thinking about what’s next! While Signature Tours are purposed to be limited-time engagements to explore places and niche topics of history, it is often challenging to get in contact with individuals who can grant access to a building or exclusive site.
If you have an idea for a future limited-time tour - and can suggest a good point of contact who could help make it happen - we’d love to hear about it! Just send us a message here, and we’ll add it to our list of places to consider for the future!