Thoughts of the Alamo conjure up images of an ancient mission in the wastelands of Texas. For the uninitiated, this image couldn’t be further from the truth. The Alamo holds her ground in downtown San Antonio, where she is encroached on all sides by progress. San Antonio is among the ten largest cities in the United States, yet the charm of The Riverwalk and The Alamo give San Antonio a flavor that sets it apart from other metropolitan areas.
The Alamo was originally called Mision San Antonio de Valero. Long before the events that catapulted The Alamo into the history books, the site served as a Mission (from 1724 through 1793 when Spanish Officials distributed the lands to Native residents. The name “Alamo” came from the Spanish soldiers quartered there during the 1800s after their hometown of Alamo de Parras, Coahuila. In 1835, The Alamo became the focal point for Texas independence. Residents of Texas came to the aid of Ben Milam and his volunteers who stood against an overwhelming force of Spanish soldiers under the command of General Santa Anna. For thirteen days, the Texans held out, before a massive assault on March 6, 1836 brought waves of soldiers against the fortified mission. The Spanish eventually overran the fort and turned the cannons on the barricaded doors of the church and long barracks, leading to a Spanish victory. Notable among the defenders of The Alamo were the knife fighter, Jim Bowie and Frontiersman David Crockett. Items belonging to these two renowned Americans are on display to this day. The Alamo was a testament to America’s commitment to liberty and the American notion of beating overwhelming odds.
The Alamo is maintained by The Daughters of The Republic of Texas. This group supports the maintenance of The Alamo through private contributions as well as through sales in the gift shop located within the Sales Museum. There is no charge for admission to this historic location, in spite of the numerous nearby attractions set up to soak as much money as possible from tourists. Donation boxes are located throughout The Alamo. It is important to give what you can, as these donations keep The Alamo free. Surprisingly, The Alamo has been maintained by The Daughters of The Republic of Texas since 1905 without any funding from state or local government.
The Alamo has audio walking tour headsets available for rental near the main entrance. However, the interactive exhibits are self explanatory and do not require any additional dialogue. Maps of the location identify the various buildings. As you approach The Alamo, the most visible building (the one you see in photographs) is called the Shrine. This building is a memorial to the men who fell in defense of The Alamo. Along the left side of the location is a long building called the Long Barrack Museum. This building has several compartments with a variety of period artifacts and interactive information booths. This was the same barracks that was shelled with cannon fire during the attack on March 6, 1836. Open since 1968, this building also houses a movie theater called the Clara Driscoll Theater, where information movies are presented.
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