San Antonio Museum of Art
Photo: Own work — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The San Antonio Museum of Art showcases a diverse collection spanning 5,000 years, housed in a former brewery along the San Antonio River Walk.
Planning your visit
SAMA occupies the former Lone Star Brewery on the San Antonio River, a nineteenth-century industrial complex with towers and arched windows, converted in 1981 — the brewery character is entirely legible in the galleries.
The collection spans 5,000 years, and two strands stand out. The Latin American holdings are among the most comprehensive in the United States, covering pre-Columbian, Spanish colonial, folk and modern art — appropriate for a city that is majority Hispanic and was Mexican before it was Texan.
The Asian collection, built substantially through a single donation, covers Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian and Southeast Asian art at a depth unusual for a museum of this size.
Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities and contemporary work complete it.
The River Walk passes directly outside, and the museum has its own landing. Allow two hours. The main booking is an entry ticket. Current availability is shown below.
Before you book
Where is San Antonio Museum of Art?
San Antonio Museum of Art is in San Antonio, United States. The map on this page marks its exact location.
How long should I allow for San Antonio Museum of Art?
Allow two hours. That is the time the collection itself takes at an unhurried pace, before any queue.
Do I need to book San Antonio Museum of Art in advance?
Tickets can be bought on the door at quiet times, but booking ahead fixes the date and avoids the queue at busy ones. Live availability is shown on this page.