Last updated on .
The Alamo is an iconic Texas landmark located in San Antonio. It’s part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the San Antonio Missions, but not included in the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
Origins as a Mission
The Alamo was founded as a mission in April 1718 by Spanish governor Martín de Alarcón. He named it San Antonio de Valero after Saint Anthony of Padua and it sat on the banks of the San Antonio River. The Presidio San Antonio de Béxar, a fort, was built nearby to protect the mission.
The mission moved to its present location near the west bank of the river in 1724 to protect it from flooding. By 1744, there were over 300 Native American converts living in the complex and a permanent stone church was built, but it collapsed in the late 1750s. Construction began on a new church in 1758 but was never completed. The mission was secularized in 1793 and later abandoned.
Military Use
In the 19th century, the complex became known as the Alamo after it was taken over by the Second Flying Company of San Carlos de Parras, a company of Spanish lancers, in 1803. It served as the first hospital in Texas between 1806 and 1812. It also functioned as a military prison during the Mexican War of Independence between 1810 and 1821. During that time, many improvements were made to strengthen the complex.
Battle of the Alamo
One of the most important moments in the history of Texas was the Battle of the Alamo, which took place at the complex between February 23 and March 6, 1836. After a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna (1794-1876) stormed the Alamo and brutally killed the outnumbered Texians and Tejanos inside. Among those killed were Jim Bowie (1796-1836), William Travis (1809-1836), and Davy Crockett (1786-1836).
The Battle of the Alamo marked a turning point in the Texas Revolution. Hellbent on revenge, Santa Anna’s cruelty inspired many Texians and Tejanos to join the Texian Army. They defeated the Mexicans at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, and formed the independent Republic of Texas.
The remains of the heroes of the Alamo are buried at San Fernando Cathedral in downtown San Antonio. Songs, films, books, and television shows have all been written about the battle, and the battle cry “Remember the Alamo!” remains an important motto for Texans.
Preservation
After gaining statehood, in 1855 the Texas Supreme Court decided that the Catholic Church was the rightful owner of the Alamo. The Church leased it to the military who abandoned the complex in 1876. The Church then sold the Long Barrack (convent) shortly after, and the Chapel was sold to the State of Texas in 1883.
Restoration and preservation became a priority in 1892, and there were several battles to save the Alamo. It was named a National Historic Landmark on December 19, 1960, and an inaugural listing on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. Today, the Alamo is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Texas.
Visiting
The Alamo is open to visitors free of charge, and guided tours are offered daily for US$45 per adult (as of April 2024). The chapel is hallowed ground. Photos and cell phone use as well as clothing with obscene images and language are forbidden inside. The Long Barrack (convent) and Chapel are the two historic buildings open to the public. There’s also a gift shop.
