If you are child of the 80s like me, then you
probably first heard about the Alamo in the cult movie hit “Pee-Wee’s Big
Adventure.” After going across the
country in search of his stolen bike, Pee-Wee was told that his prized
possession could be found in the basement of the Alamo. Unfortunately, he finds out that there is no basement at the Alamo and the movie goes on half hour or so until he finds it. But, I digress!
Flash forward to March 2007, and I finally make
a trip down to San Antonio for work. Coincidentally,
I was in San Antonio some 171 years after the Battle of the Alamo took
place. What clued me in was a brief
demonstration that occurred in front of the Alamo
commemorating the event. So why is the Alamo so important and why should you care?
The Alamo Mission in San Antonio – or the Alamo
as it is commonly referred to – is an 18th century Roman Catholic
mission and fortress compound. It was
one of the first Spanish missions built in Texas to educate Native Americans
after their conversion to Christianity before being abandoned in 1793.
By the early 19th Century, the Alamo
was converted into a military fort and held significant strategic importance
during the Texas Revolution – none more important than the Battle of the Alamo,
which I will address in a minute. After
Mexico declared independence from Spain in 1821, it controlled much of what is
now known as the modern day Southwestern United States, including Texas. By late 1835, political tensions arose
between the American colonialists and the Mexican government over such issues
as immigration policies, tariffs on American products, and overall treatment by
the Mexican armies, which lead to the Texas Revolution on October 2.
On February 23, 1836, Mexican General Santa Ana
lead a 13-day siege of the Alamo. By the
early morning hours of March 6 – the final day of the siege – Santa Ana’s army
had completely surrounded the Alamo in the early morning hours for one final
battle. In the end, almost all of the Alamo
defenders were captured and killed, including several men who actually
surrendered. Two
of the most famous Alamo Defenders killed included Jim Bowie (inventor of the
Bowie knife) and Davy Crockett.
The Battle of the Alamo served as the pinnacle
event of the Texas Revolution as the siege bought more time for the General Sam
Houston to build up more forces and supplies in order for the Texian Army to
fight against the Mexicans. Santa Ana
was eventually captured on April 22, 1836, which not only officially ended the
Revolution, but eventually laid the groundwork for the United States to expand
into the Southwest – Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas,
and Utah.
Today, the Alamo represents courage and pride for Texans, and is one of the most visited attractions in the United States. Here is some additional information about the
Alamo to consider before you visit:
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| The Alamo |
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| Re-enactment of the Battle of the Alamo |
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| Re-enactment of the Battle of the Alamo |
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| Women and children were spared during the Battle of the Alamo |
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| Re-enactment of the Battle of the Alamo with General Santa Ana |
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| Remember the Alamo! |
- The Alamo was the first Mission established in San Antonio in the early 1700s
- Five countries have occupied the Alamo its 300-year-old history – Spain, Mexico, Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America, and the United States of America
- The Daughters of the Republic of Texas – descendants of the founding families and soldiers of the Republic of Texas (1836 – 1846) – can be credited for restoring the Alamo in the early 20th century as both as a significant historical monument. Without the DRT, the Alamo may have fallen into complete disrepair or have been completely destroyed
- The Alamo is opened everyday from 9am – 5:30pm CST (except for Christmas Eve/Day)
- Admission is free (although nominal donations are accepted)
- Photography is not allowed within the Alamo nor the Long Barracks
- Over 2.5 million people visit the Alamo annually – San Antonio’s population is 1.5 million
