ITC power-washing

Institute of Texan Cultures receives power-wash and repairs

(Feb. 23, 2004)--UTSA's Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC) is undergoing its second exterior cleaning since it opened as the Texas Pavilion at HemisFair '68.

The current power-washing began early this month and is scheduled for completion by the end of March. The previous cleaning was by sandblasting in 1988.

According to Joe Rubio, assistant director of custodial services, it was much messier than the current water method. Additional maintenance work in progress includes caulking joints to prevent rain leakage, repairing the entrance bridge and installing a safety fence.

Pictured is the ITC exterior with scaffolding, and a cactus-like Tower of the Americas in the background.

According to the Handbook of Texas Online, HemisFair '68 was the first officially designated international exposition in the Southwestern United States. The fair, which commemorated the 250th anniversary of the founding of San Antonio, had its beginnings in 1959, when local business leaders, inspired by merchant Jerome K. Harris, started discussing a fair to celebrate the cultural heritage shared by San Antonio and the nations of Latin America -- a "Hemis-Fair," as Harris called it.

The Institute of Texan Cultures and the Tower of the Americas were two of the permanent structures remaining after the event that were used for new purposes. Popular during the fair's six-month run, ITC remained open with an expanded statewide mission.

Today, ITC is one of the three UTSA campuses and is dedicated to understanding Texas cultural history, science and technology through exhibits, programs and publications.

The museum maintains more than 50,000 square feet of exhibits and welcomes more than 200,000 visitors annually, nearly half of whom are schoolchildren from throughout the state.

--Tim Brownlee