This week marked 55 years since HemisFair ’68 opened in San Antonio.

While the World’s Fair left enduring landmarks in SA — the Tower of the Americas, Institute of Texan Cultures and Convention Center, to name a few — many of the event’s offerings were packed up when it ended on Oct. 6, 1968.

These vintage photos show what it was like when HemisFair was in full swing. The shots document attractions ranging from the iconic monorail and skyride to tech demonstrations and carnival fun on Fiesta Island.

In addition to crowds of regular visitors, celebrities of the time, including Princess Grace of Monaco, Pat Boone, President Lyndon B. Johnson, Glen Campbell and others, appeared at HemisFair.

All photos and caption courtesy of UTSA Libraries Digital Collections.

Marching Band, Skyride, and Mini-Monorail Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Mini-monorail passes through IBM Lakeside Pavilion Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Ferris wheel on Fiesta Island Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Night view, United States Pavilion, exterior of Confluence Theater at Hemisfair’68. Image shows sculpture ‘Migration’ by Bill Bristow at right. Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Mercury Outboard Water-Ski show, produced by Tommy Bartlett, on lake at HemisFair’68 Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
View of Mini-Monorail and Fiesta Island from elevated walkway Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
African American children drinking Coca Cola outside Coca Cola Company Pavilion Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
View from Mini-Monorail showing United States Pavilion Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Guide encourages visitors to type message on a postcard with an IBM Selectric typewriter in the IBM Durango Pavilion Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
HemisFair’68 Lagoon Cruise as it goes under the Mini-Monorail with the Bell System Pavilion at left Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Princess Grace of Monaco (center) and Prince Rainier (second from right) at reception for fashion writers at France Pavilion Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Organ grinder and monkey with Tower of the Americas in background Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Skyride at HemisFair ’68 Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
The monorail at HemisFair ’68, with the IBM Lakeside Pavilion and the Tower of the Americas in the background Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Ringling Brothers Circus in San Antonio Convention Center Arena Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Ringling Brothers Circus in San Antonio Convention Center Arena Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Dancers on floating stage outside Republic of Mexico pavilion Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Young woman eating dessert from Goliad Food Plaza (the food cluster) Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / San Antonio Express-News Photograph Collection
President Lyndon B. Johnson speaking outside U.S. Pavilion Confluence Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Los Voladores de Papantla, famous Flying Indians of Papantla, brought to HemisFair’68 by Frito-Lay/Pepsi-Cola Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
United States Pavilion, exterior of Confluence Theater Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Diners view a panorama of the city from the top of the Tower of the Americas Restaurant Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Fiesta Island rides and San Antonio Convention Center Arena Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Fiesta Island, rides and games area at HemisFair’68, showing Ferris Wheel at night Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Fiesta Island, rides and games area at HemisFair’68 showing ride “Flight to the Moon” Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Pat Boone (center) tours HemisFair’68 Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Aerial view looking south toward HemisFair ’68 Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Couple at outdoor dining table at the Cafe de Paris Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Mini-monorail passes Fiesta Island Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Girl uses a “light pen” to draw a design that a computer instructs a Jacquard loom to replicate in a four-inch swatch of woven fabric in the IBM Durango Pavilion Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Current models of Ford automobiles on display at Ford Motor Company Pavilion Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Mariachi group on floating stage outside Mexico Pavilion Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Audience watching mariachi group on floating stage outside Mexico Pavilion Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
U.S. Rep. Henry B. González cuts ribbon opening HemisFair’68 at one of the simultaneous gate-opening ceremonies Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
HemisFair ’68 crowd shot, with monorail, Ferris Wheel, and arena in background Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Flamenco dancers perform in Migration Courtyard at U.S. Pavilion Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Bird’s eye view of Goliad Food Plaza and carnival from Tower of the Americas Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Skyride at HemisFair ’68 Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Lone Star Brewing Company Pavilion Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Visitors use IBM 2260 video display terminals at the IBM Durango Pavilion Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Eastman Kodak Pavilion Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
HemisFair ’68 Gulf TouRide, gasoline-powered mini sport cars that travel at seven miles per hour over a model freeway with landscaped countryside and traffic controls, sponsored by Gulf Oil Company. Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Fiesta Island at HemisFair’68. Image shows one of eighteen major rides in this rides and games area Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Mini-monorail passes the flags outside the Institute of Texan Cultures (Texas Pavilion) Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Marching band on Goliad Street Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Young woman eating a bunuelo from Goliad Food Plaza (the food cluster) Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / San Antonio Express-News Photograph Collection
HemisFair’68 visitor regulates the sound of Francois and Bernard Baschet’s “A Musical Fountain” Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / San Antonio Express-News Photograph Collection
Ballet folklorico de Mexico Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / San Antonio Express-News Photograph Collection
Ballet folklorico de Mexico Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / San Antonio Express-News Photograph Collection
A pavilion guide assists a visitor who is using an IBM 2260 video display terminal to play a question-and-answer game in the IBM Durango Pavilion Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Glen Campbell at HemisFair 1968 Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Lagoon cruise of waterways in Convention Center area Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Fiesta Island, the rides and games area at HemisFair’68, with carousel at right Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Fiesta Island, rides and games area at HemisFair’68 showing one of the eighteen rides Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Skyride at HemisFair’68. Ride was one-way south down the longest axis of the HemisFair site from Las Plazas del Mundo to Institute of Texan Cultures Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
“El Trenecito,” a trackless train that tours the grounds of HemisFair’68 Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / San Antonio Light Photograph Collection
HemisFair ’68 U.S. Pavilion Confluence Theater Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Bird’s-eye view of lake at HemisFair’68 Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Jack Benny poses with official HemisFair’68 hostesses Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Experimental car on exhibit at HemisFair’68 Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Children at fountain Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Les Gilles of La Louviere, Belgian dancers, on Ceremonial Plaza Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / San Antonio Light Photograph Collection
Mini-Monorail passing by Bavarian Beer Garden in the Lake Pavilion Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Information booth in front of Arena Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Guides at Gulf TouRide, sponsored by Gulf Oil Company Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Norwegian King Olav V (left) is seated next to Governor John Connally Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / San Antonio Express-News Photograph Collection
Exterior of “El Encanto de un Pueblo” pavilion, the Alexander Girard exhibit Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Visitor uses IBM 2260 video display terminal to play question-and-answer game in the IBM Durango Pavilion at HemisFair’68 Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Fountain in foreground and Ferris wheel on Fiesta Island Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Experimental automobile on display in General Motors Pavilion Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Woman carrying paper flowers Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / San Antonio Express-News Photograph Collection
Dining patio at Sir John Falstaff Restaurant at HemisFair ’68, sponsored by Falstaff Brewing Company in the former Meyer Halff House, 139 Goliad Street Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Three of the official HemisFair’68 hostesses in information booth Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Fiesta Island, rides and games area at HemisFair’68 showing one of the eighteen rides at night Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Pavilion guide assists visitor who is using an IBM 2260 video display terminal to play question-and-answer game in the IBM Durango Pavilion Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Skyride at HemisFair ’68 Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Ford Motor Company Pavilion Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Mini-monorail, skyride, and the Tower of the Americas on opening day of HemisFair’68 Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / San Antonio Express-News Photograph Collection
Formula 1 race car, sponsored by Hemphill-McCombs Ford Motor Company, at the Ford Motor Company Pavilion Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Pavilion hostess shows visitor how to use a student terminal of an RCA Spectra 70 computer system in RCA Pavilion Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / Zintgraff Studio Photographic Collection
Los Voladores de Papantla, at amphitheater sponsored by Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Guide standing on elevated walk above Fiesta Island Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Entrance to HemisFair’68 showing ‘Confluence of Civilizations in the Americas’ logo Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection
Bell Telephone System pavilion Credit: UTSA Libraries Digital Collections / General Photograph Collection

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