The pedestrian bridge into the Institute of Texan Cultures is among the fixtures of the building already demolished. Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Larry D. Moore

An appeals court has rejected the Conservation Society of San Antonio’s emergency request to stop the demolition of downtown’s Institute of Texan Cultures building.

Friday’s decision by the 15th Court of Appeals appears to end the society’s bid to preserve the 1967 structure, which the University of Texas at San Antonio is tearing down to make way for Project Marvel, proposed sports-and-entertainment district that would include a new Spurs arena.

“We are frustrated that the merits of our case for injunctive relief have not been heard, allowing the building to be demolished,” Conservation Society President Lewis Vetter said in an emailed statement. “Once again, a public building is being destroyed with public dollars and no public hearing. This bodes poorly for the other historic properties owned by UTSA, including the Kallison Block across from City Hall and the former Southwest School of Art. If they did it once, they can do it again.”

The Conservation Society filed its original lawsuit March 26 to prevent destruction of the former museum, which it argues is historically significant. After a judge rejected its request, group subsequently filed an appeal.

In its suit, the Conservation Society argued the destruction of the original Institute of Texan Cultures building would violate portions of a 1967 deed that transferred the property from the city into state hands. The museum’s collection has since been moved elsewhere as part of a relocation plan.

Demolition of the building, erected for San Antonio’s 1968 Hemisfair celebration, has continued while the legal battle played out. As result, Vetter said most of its wall panels, its pedestrian bridge and its centerpiece fountain have all been torn away.

“Even if we were to succeed in our appeal, there is little left to save,” Vetter said. “It is already gone,”

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This article appears in May 14-27, 2025.

Sanford Nowlin is editor-in-chief of the San Antonio Current. He holds degrees from Trinity University and the University of Texas at San Antonio, and his work has been featured in Salon, Alternet, Creative...