You may have heard of The Conservation Society of San Antonio — if you’ve ever attended their annual fundraiser, NIOSA, you know exactly who they are. The Society is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. We’re here to explore the history of the organization and its local community outreach initiatives.
Who are they?
Founded on March 22, 1924, the Conservation Society of San Antonio was one of the first community preservation groups in the US founded by artists Emily Edwards and Rena Maverick Green. Since then, the organization has grown from its founding 13 women members and has expanded to over 1,700. The organization’s purpose is to preserve San Antonio’s unique historical buildings + sites, and funding from NIOSA directly helps their mission.
A project you may be familiar involves helping with the passage of a $9.1 million auditorium restoration bond in 1981 for the Tobin Performing Arts Center.
Take a scroll through its full history.
What they do
In addition to advocating for the reuse of historic structures, here’s how the society gets involved with our community:
- Hosts free school tours for children
- Offer grants for community preservation projects
- Owns + maintains 17 historic buildings on seven different sites
- Present awards for the restorations of a built environment
- Host speakers and support heritage projects
To help with these community outreach projects, the organization’s annual event, a Night in Old San Antonio is held during Fiesta since 1948 and is currently in its 76th year. This is the largest celebration for historic preservation + fundraiser in the US, raising over $12 million in the last 12 years.
Get involved
There are a few ways San Antonians can support and assist with this organization:
- Volunteer at NIOSA, create casacornes + fluff flowers, and at its library
- Become a member
- Donate to its foundation endeavors