San Marcos has been named one of eight semifinalists for the 2025 Great American Main Street Award, a national honor recognizing communities that demonstrate excellence in preservation-based downtown revitalization. Since the award’s inception in 1995, only 115 programs have received this distinction.

San Marcos is being celebrated for over four decades of transformation, including more than $40 million in reinvestment and the development of a vibrant cultural and business district. The city’s strong community partnerships and commitment to historic preservation continue to set a high standard for Main Street revitalization efforts.

The Great American Main Street Award is administered by Main Street America, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Established in 1980, the national Main Street program was created to address the economic and structural challenges facing historic downtown commercial districts. Today, Main Street America supports a network of over 1,200 communities through its signature Main Street Approach, which focuses on organization, economic vitality, design, and promotion.

In Texas, the Main Street movement is led by the Texas Main Street Program (TMSP), one of the oldest and largest coordinating programs in the country. Operating under the Texas Historical Commission, the TMSP was launched in 1981 following a pilot study on the decline of American downtowns. The program was introduced by Anice Read, a former member of the Texas Historical Commission and the first director of the state’s Main Street initiative.

The TMSP provides technical assistance, resources, and strategic guidance to 81 designated communities across Texas. Its mission is to help local programs meet their revitalization goals while preserving the unique heritage of their downtown districts.

As San Marcos continues to build on its legacy of preservation and progress, its recognition as a semifinalist underscores the impact of long-term investment and community-driven development in shaping resilient, thriving downtowns.