The Alamo

Upon seeing the Alamo for the first time, most visitors react with surprise at how small it is. Though the shape of the facade of the Alamo is widely recognized, most Americans think of it as a large fortress. This only underscores the heroic and desperate actions of the Alamo's defenders, who in 1836 held off a siege by a large Mexican army for 13 days. Also, it should be noted, the defenses for the battle were much larger than what you see today on the mission grounds. Back in those days, missions often had large enclosed areas in front of the church, known as atrios. The wall enclosed all of what is now Alamo Plaza and extended even a bit farther in the direction of the river.

The Alamo today is more a shrine than a museum. Its main purpose is to honor the actions of its defenders, which, whether real or imagined, went a long way toward creating the larger-than-life mystique that Texas was eventually to acquire. Among the famous defenders were Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, and the idea of their sacrifice for Texas independence gave added meaning to the struggle almost immediately. "Remember the Alamo!" became the battle cry at San Jacinto, when the Texans finally defeated the Mexican army and captured its general, López de Santa Anna.

The Daughters of the Republic of Texas, who saved the crumbling mission from being turned into a hotel by a New York syndicate in 1905, have long been the Alamo's stewards. They have installed exhibits to display the various roles the mission played, including serving as a Native American burial ground. The Alamo's original name was Mission San Antonio de Valero, and many converted Indians from a variety of tribes lived and died here. The complex was secularized by the end of the 18th century and leased out to a Spanish cavalry unit; however, by the time the famous battle took place, it had been abandoned. A Wall of History, erected in the late 1990s, provides a chronology of these events.

The outlying buildings of the original mission are gone. Only the Long Barrack (formerly the convento, or living quarters for the missionaries) and the much-photographed mission church are still here. The former houses a museum detailing the history of Texas in general and the battle in particular, and the latter includes artifacts of the Alamo fighters, along with an information desk and a small gift shop. The exhibit doesn't do the best job of explaining how the battle developed. If you want to understand more, see the IMAX show in the nearby Rivercenter Mall.

A larger museum and gift shop are at the back of the complex. A peaceful garden and an excellent research library (closed Sun) are also on the grounds. All in all, though, the complex is fairly small. You won't need to spend more than an hour here. Interesting historical presentations are given every half-hour by Alamo staffers; for private, after-hour tours, phone tel. 210/225-1391, ext. 34.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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