History of the Carver
In 2007, the Carver facility located at 226 North Hackberry was listed in the National Register of Historical Places by the United States Department of the Interior.
In 1905
The Carver saw its inception as THE COLORED COMMUNITY HOUSE. The
facility was rooted in a tradition of community involvement and a strong
commitment to education.
In the
years following World War I, the Colored Library Association received support
from the War Services Board to finance construction of an assembly building for
the African American community.
In 1929
bonds were sold by the City of San Antonio in the amount of $75,000.00 for
construction of the building located on the corner of Hackberry and Center
Streets.
The Facility opened its doors in 1930 as the Colored Branch of the San
Antonio Library and Auditorium. The center was a focal point for educational, cultural,
political, and social activities for San Antonio's African-American community. Nationally acclaimed artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Lionel Hampton, Paul
Robeson, Louis Armstrong, Charlie 'Bird' Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Carter,
Cab Calloway, and Billy Eckstein performed at the Center
In 1976 the Center's mission was expanded, mandating that the Carver would
be a multiethnic and multicultural performing and visual arts center with a
primary focus on the artistic achievements of African Americans. Its mission
would include community and educational outreach for the city's east side and
also for the broader community. A secondary mandate was that it would provide
affordable rental facilities for community activities.
Today the Carver Community Cultural Center continues the tradition of
bringing some of the Nations top talent to San Antonio to perform on the Carver
stage. The Center also offers arts
classes to the public through the Carver School for Visual and Performing Arts.
226 N. Hackberry • San Antonio, Texas 78202
Main Telephone
(210) 207-7211 • FAX (210) 207-4412
Carver Box Office: (210)
207-2234
Carver Web Page:
www.thecarver.org
