Central Library
🏢 San Antonio Public Library — San Antonio, Texas
Central Library
The unmistakable "Enchilada Red" flagship of the San Antonio Public Library, designed by Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta and anchoring downtown just off the River Walk.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 12 PM – 8 PM |
| Tuesday | 12 PM – 8 PM |
| Wednesday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
| Thursday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
| Friday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays.
📍 Location & Contact
Address: 600 Soledad Street, San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: (210) 207-2500
Website: mysapl.org
📖 About Central Library
San Antonio's Central Library opened May 20, 1995, the product of a voter-approved 1989 bond and roughly $10 million in private gifts. Designed by celebrated Mexican Modernist architect Ricardo Legorreta, its 240,000-square-foot form is painted a bold color the city affectionately calls "Enchilada Red," a deliberate break from conventional library design that reshaped the downtown skyline. Six above-ground floors wrap around a sunlit yellow atrium topped with skylights. At its heart hangs Dale Chihuly's "Fiesta Tower," a roughly 20-foot hand-blown glass sculpture installed in 2003 whose twisting colored orbs evoke the many cultures of San Antonio. Beyond the art, the building houses the Texana/Genealogy collection and the Marie Swartz Art Resource Center, drawing researchers and visitors alike. In 2025 the design earned the Texas Society of Architects 25-Year Award, a recognition reserved for buildings of enduring significance.
⭐ What makes this branch special
- Designed by Ricardo Legorreta and finished in its signature "Enchilada Red" — a downtown landmark since 1995
- Dale Chihuly's two-story blown-glass "Fiesta Tower" sculpture crowns the central yellow atrium
- Home to the Texana/Genealogy collection and the Marie Swartz Art Resource Center
- Steps from the River Walk; recipient of the 2025 Texas Society of Architects 25-Year Award
📱 Free with a San Antonio Public Library Card
Any Texas resident can get a SAPL card free and unlock:
📍 More San Antonio Public Library branches
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Central Library really painted red, and does the color have a name?
Yes. The exterior is finished in a deep red-orange that San Antonians nicknamed "Enchilada Red." Architect Ricardo Legorreta chose the bold color intentionally as part of his Mexican Modernist vocabulary of light, color and geometry, and it has become one of downtown's most recognizable sights.
Where is the Chihuly glass sculpture inside the Central Library?
Dale Chihuly's "Fiesta Tower" hangs in the building's central atrium, the sunlit yellow volume around which the six above-ground floors are organized. Installed in 2003 and standing roughly 20 feet tall, its hand-blown, multicolored glass is meant to reflect San Antonio's cultural diversity.
Does the Central Library have genealogy and Texas history resources?
Yes. The library maintains a dedicated Texana/Genealogy collection for researchers tracing family and regional history, along with the Marie Swartz Art Resource Center. These specialized collections make Central a research destination well beyond general lending.