Brackenridge Park has a rich history dating back 12,000 years. The land was occupied by Native Americans who used the springs and river. In 1718, Spanish settlers established a mission and village near the site. Through the 1800s, the river powered mills and supplied water to the growing city via acequias and pump houses. In 1899, the park was established through land donated by George Brackenridge. It was developed into an active recreation destination in the early 1900s. The park landscape evolved through the City Beautiful movement, Great Depression, and Texas Centennial. Today it retains historic features like the Japanese Tea Garden, pump houses, quarry, and acequias that tell the multi-layered story of the land and the city.