Marriage Island
Encyclopedia
Marriage Island in San Antonio, Texas
, is an islet
in the middle of the San Antonio River
on the San Antonio River Walk
that is used for weddings. River guides claim the island brings good luck to new marriages and is even the shape of a heart. Many claim the island is among the top ten destinations to get married in the world. However, many native San Antonians do not even know it exists. There are about 225 weddings a year on this island and it is located in front of the Hotel Contessa on the widest part of the river. The island is located between the Navarro Street Bridge and Presa Street Bridge along the river walk. San Antonio River tourist barges pass by the island on every tour along the river. Over the years it has come to be known as Marriage Island due to the many ceremonies performed there.
to honor his feast day. Rolando Briseño was commissioned in 1991 to create a sculpture to commemorate this Mass. The island is now the root ball of a cypress tree that was planted over 100 years ago. The island was originally kept so as not to cause permanent damage to the historic tree. It belongs to the city of San Antonio and the use of the island is controlled by Downtown Operations.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, is an islet
Islet
An islet is a very small island.- Types :As suggested by its origin as islette, an Old French diminutive of "isle", use of the term implies small size, but little attention is given to drawing an upper limit on its applicability....
in the middle of the San Antonio River
San Antonio River
The San Antonio River is a major waterway that originates in central Texas in a cluster of springs in north central San Antonio, approximately four miles north of downtown, and follows a roughly southeastern path through the state. It eventually feeds into the Guadalupe River about ten miles from...
on the San Antonio River Walk
San Antonio River Walk
The San Antonio River Walk is a network of walkways along the banks of the San Antonio River, one story beneath downtown San Antonio, Texas...
that is used for weddings. River guides claim the island brings good luck to new marriages and is even the shape of a heart. Many claim the island is among the top ten destinations to get married in the world. However, many native San Antonians do not even know it exists. There are about 225 weddings a year on this island and it is located in front of the Hotel Contessa on the widest part of the river. The island is located between the Navarro Street Bridge and Presa Street Bridge along the river walk. San Antonio River tourist barges pass by the island on every tour along the river. Over the years it has come to be known as Marriage Island due to the many ceremonies performed there.
History
The Spanish Missionary, Father Damian Massanet, conducted the first Catholic Mass on this spot on June 13, 1691. He went on to rename the river after Saint Anthony of PaduaAnthony of Padua
Anthony of Padua or Anthony of Lisbon, O.F.M., was a Portuguese Catholic priest and friar of the Franciscan Order. Though he died in Padua, Italy, he was born to a wealthy family in Lisbon, Portugal, which is where he was raised...
to honor his feast day. Rolando Briseño was commissioned in 1991 to create a sculpture to commemorate this Mass. The island is now the root ball of a cypress tree that was planted over 100 years ago. The island was originally kept so as not to cause permanent damage to the historic tree. It belongs to the city of San Antonio and the use of the island is controlled by Downtown Operations.