With 2,100 acres of scenic green spaces and nature trails, the “small town” of San Marcos is one of the fastest growing areas in the country and is home to the 4th largest university in Texas, where the Victorian Gothic steeples of Old Main dominate the San Marcos skyline.  

During the warm months of summer, the winding curves of Sessom Drive are often lined with people flocking to Sewell Park, where the San Marcos River stays 72 degrees year-round. Even in December, the river is filled with graduates of Texas State University celebrating commencement each fall semester. For many, the river is a symbol of coalescence between TXST and San Marcos.

Local residents and the TXST population create a vibrant culture of art, community, and environmental stewardship. Musicians and ensembles perform at iconic venues such as Cheatham Street Warehouse, where Texas music legends like George Strait and Stevie Ray Vaughan once graced the stage. Artists from both TXST and the surrounding community collaborate on citywide art showcases like the annual San Marcos Studio Tour. Events like river cleanups and Bobcat Build’s Big Event bring together volunteers from across the city to serve others and keep San Marcos beautiful. Initiatives like these led to San Marcos being officially designated as the Mermaid Capital of Texas.

On any given day, visitors and locals alike have endless opportunities to embrace the art, history, music, and food scenes San Marcos has to offer. We decided to spend a day exploring the city to capture the places, people, and stories that make San Marcos unique.

After nearly 22,000 steps, five rolls of film, and 12 hours of exploration, here is what we found. 

Go To:
  • 8:47 a.m.
    man in white shirt and jeans boards a large maroon TXST shuttle bus click to view full size image
    man in white shirt and jeans boards a large maroon TXST shuttle bus

    Students at One09 West Apartment complex board the Bobcat Shuttle to head to campus.

  • 8:58 a.m.
    Woman is walking her white and brown medium-sized dog on sidewalk near street click to view full size image
    Woman is walking her white and brown medium-sized dog on sidewalk near street

    TXST senior Sara Daniels takes a morning stroll with her dog Maggie

     “Maggie has a brother and we all love getting into the wildlife around town. I take them to the river, to Purgatory Creek, and they will be there with me when I walk across the commencement stage too.”  

  • 9:14 a.m.
    woman leans out of drive-thru window to hand money to black truck
    woman leans out of drive-thru window to hand money to black truck
    lines of cars line up for drive-thru window for a small red brick building
    lines of cars line up for drive-thru window for a small red brick building
    click to view full size image

    Martha Carrillo, owner of Loli’s Café, serves breakfast tacos to customers driving into town.

    “We’ve seen a lot of change in this city since we opened in 2005. We serve so many customers from the Bobcat community, so the growth of TXST has been a blessing for us.” 

  • 9:54 a.m.
    two men in blue shirts and shorts stand on deck at The Meadows Center and pose for photo. click to view full size image
    two men in blue shirts and shorts stand on deck at The Meadows Center and pose for photo.

    Jacob Allen and Trace Hennig, both geography majors at TXST, prepare to give glass-bottom boat tours at The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment

    “My favorite part about this job is helping people realize how valuable and important our natural resources are,” said Jacob. 

  • 10:09 a.m.
    Large group of people stand on deck and look into spring-fed river below them click to view full size image
    Large group of people stand on deck and look into spring-fed river below them

    Members of the TxDOT Underwater Dive Team prepare for a training session at Spring Lake for inspecting underwater bridge columns and foundations.

  • 10:14 a.m.
    man wearing a camouflage bucket hat and navy polo shirt looks off into the distance click to view full size image
    man wearing a camouflage bucket hat and navy polo shirt looks off into the distance

    Air Force veteran and volunteer diver James Love has assisted with cleaning up underwater vegetation since 2006.

    “We clean the excess vegetation so that they don’t cover up the underwater springs. It is absolutely beautiful down there. It’s like being in an aquarium.”  

  • 11:22 a.m.
    Brown german shepherd dog drinks water out of a white dog bowl
    Brown german shepherd dog drinks water out of a white dog bowl
    small brown and black dog sits on a deck. a woman in a chair is sitting off to the right of the dog
    small brown and black dog sits on a deck. a woman in a chair is sitting off to the right of the dog
    close up of black and brown dog's face
    close up of black and brown dog's face
    click to view full size image

    Lulu, a 3-year-old German shepard and Belgian Malinois mix, and Beck, a border collie husky mix, enjoy outdoor time at the San Marcos Dog Park.

  • 11:31 a.m.
    woman bending down in between two rows of books at a library. she is restocking the shelves with books. there is a cart of books besides her
    woman bending down in between two rows of books at a library. she is restocking the shelves with books. there is a cart of books besides her
    man sits at a table working at a library with a row of books in the foreground
    man sits at a table working at a library with a row of books in the foreground
    click to view full size image

    A staff member organizes books while a local resident enjoys the peace and quiet of the San Marcos Public Library.

  • 12:29 p.m.
    the red roof of Old Main peaks behind green trees. a blue sky with clouds is shown behind it. click to view full size image
    the red roof of Old Main peaks behind green trees. a blue sky with clouds is shown behind it.

    Old Main at TXST’s San Marcos Campus peeks from behind the trees on a cloudy afternoon.

  • 12:55 p.m.
    a man walks on the sidewalk in front of a pale yellow and maroon victorian-style house. click to view full size image
    a man walks on the sidewalk in front of a pale yellow and maroon victorian-style house.

    A man taking a post-lunch walk past the LBJ TRIO Alumni House on University Drive and N. LBJ Drive. 

  • 1:28 p.m.
    man in jeans and a dallas cowboys jersey sits on a bench in front of a barber shop. click to view full size image
    man in jeans and a dallas cowboys jersey sits on a bench in front of a barber shop.

    A resident finds shade from the summer sun outside of MoBetta Cutz barber shop.

  • 2:06 p.m.
    close up of a woman's hands cutting a photo from a piece of paper
    close up of a woman's hands cutting a photo from a piece of paper
    multiple woman sit at a table outside while they are scrapbooking
    multiple woman sit at a table outside while they are scrapbooking
    woman holding up a collage she made during a scrapbooking session with friends
    woman holding up a collage she made during a scrapbooking session with friends
    click to view full size image

    Lillian Garcia shows off her mood board that she created with her TXST Society of Hispanic Professional Careers club members.

    “This vision board reminds me to have fun and enjoy my time in San Marcos but to also stay focused on my goals and rely on support from my friends.” 

  • 3:29 p.m.
    students sitting on short brick wall as they wait for a bus next to a large sign reading "Texas State University". multiple green bushes and trees are behind them. click to view full size image
    students sitting on short brick wall as they wait for a bus next to a large sign reading "Texas State University". multiple green bushes and trees are behind them.

    Students wait for the next Bobcat Shuttle to arrive at the Woods Street bus stop.

  • 4:07 p.m.
    woman in white tank top and red gingham button down looks through set of art prints under a blue pop up tent click to view full size image
    woman in white tank top and red gingham button down looks through set of art prints under a blue pop up tent

    TXST Senior Mia Ocanas browses through a collection of artwork and posters near the Quad on the San Marcos Campus.

  • 5:38 p.m.
    female students pet large horses while police offers sit on the horses.
    female students pet large horses while police offers sit on the horses.
    two police officers in cowboy hats sit on large brown horses in front of large windows
    two police officers in cowboy hats sit on large brown horses in front of large windows
    click to view full size image

    UPD Officers Haley McClaran and Aleysha Ortiz patrol campus with Duke and Lyndon, two Clydesdales who first arrived at TXST UPD in 2023.

  • 5:52 p.m.
    group of students walk in lobby next to large neon signs of the TXST hand signs. click to view full size image
    group of students walk in lobby next to large neon signs of the TXST hand signs.

    Bobcat students walk past a new “States Up” neon sign in the LBJ Student Center.

  • 6:02 p.m.
    two students sit on a bench that features a large bronze statue of boko sitting down. there are balloon columns on either side of them click to view full size image
    two students sit on a bench that features a large bronze statue of boko sitting down. there are balloon columns on either side of them

    First-year student Isaac Leon poses next to a new statue of Boko in the LBJ Student Center.

    “Even though I’m new, it doesn’t feel like it. Everyone here is so welcoming. A random encounter on this campus can quickly turn into meaningful friendship.” 

  • 6:29 p.m.
    three men in a band playing instruments. the guitarist is singing into a microphone. click to view full size image
    three men in a band playing instruments. the guitarist is singing into a microphone.

    Indie rock band “Never Odd or Even” plays music at the LBJ Student Center amphitheater.

  • 6:44 p.m.
    a group of students wait to cross a busy street. click to view full size image
    a group of students wait to cross a busy street.

    Pedestrian traffic passes on Guadalupe Street during dusk in San Marcos.

  • 6:58 p.m.
    students walk on either side of a bronze statue. the statue is of a man's bust where the face is looking into its head click to view full size image
    students walk on either side of a bronze statue. the statue is of a man's bust where the face is looking into its head

    National Pastime II, a bronze sculpture created in 1991 by Terry Allen, relocated to TXST’s San Marcos Campus in 2024.

  • 7:11 p.m.
    students walking on sidewalk next to large wooden sculpture of the txst hand sign click to view full size image
    students walking on sidewalk next to large wooden sculpture of the txst hand sign

    Students walk past Nathan Mabry's "States Up" sculpture on Bobcat Trail.

  • 7:32 p.m.
    young boy is yelling into a cheerleader's megaphone while standing next to men cheering for a soccer game
    young boy is yelling into a cheerleader's megaphone while standing next to men cheering for a soccer game
    a soccer ball sits on an empty soccer field. a crowd of people watch in the distance.
    a soccer ball sits on an empty soccer field. a crowd of people watch in the distance.
    multiple people in maroon shirts and white overalls hold up signs and cheer during a soccer game
    multiple people in maroon shirts and white overalls hold up signs and cheer during a soccer game
    click to view full size image

    Members of the TXST Rally Cats and Boko’s Army join together to cheer on the TXST women’s soccer team to a 4-3 comeback victory against Rice.

  • 8:17 p.m.
    sun sets behind large building. a bright soccer game in happening in the foreground click to view full size image
    sun sets behind large building. a bright soccer game in happening in the foreground

    The evening sun sets behind the Falls and Sayers Complex on the west side of campus.

Your filters produced no results
Try adjusting or clearing your filters to display more results