The Alamo

At first glance, the history of Texas appears immeasurably different from that of Massachusetts. Rugged outposts in the dessert full of ranchers, Spaniards, and Natives come to mind. But they too were a community persevering in difficult environments, who were partial to their independence. Not to be forgotten is the fact that many of the Alamo’s residents were from the eastern seaboard of the U.S. They grew up in 18th and 19th century New England, Virginia, and many other places.

• The Battle of the Alamo took place March 6, 1836
• David Crockett and James Bowie were both killed in the battle
• The Alamo itself has had many different functions, from church to general store

Nowadays, the Alamo is certainly a bit of a tourist trap. Though the grounds are free, a long, albeit moving, line snakes under the trees and positions helpless guests for a requisite photo in front of the church (available in the gift shop).

Despite all that, its history is still there, and it’s important. Behind your pressured photo, the stonework surrounding the heavy wooden doorway is beautiful. Still visible are intricate carvings bordering windows, doors, and coating four columns. Then you step through the 3-foot thick walls into the cool interior.

Above you, the vaulted ceilings are covered with a grid of circles. Each shallow hole in the plaster is perhaps fist-sized in diameter. Perhaps ironically, they represent the museum’s current dedication to the Alamo’s preservation.

Instigated by the concerning results of the Black Paper Project, a plan is now in place to identify and repair areas where deterioration is worst. The Black Paper Project was initiated when Alamo Conservator, Pamela Jary Rosser, noticed that the Alamo’s soft limestone walls were crumbling. She set out to determine how much, and how quickly the decay was occurring.

Black paper was placed at the foot of certain walls inside the Alamo’s church. Instructing staff not to clean the paper over the course of 600 days, meticulous records were kept of the accumulating debris.

When the results came in, it was evident that preservation was required if the Alamo was to remain for many more generations. As part of the preservation process, a sort of MRI is being conducted on the entire church. The 3-D scan it creates will be used to determine where structural weaknesses lie, and which areas need the most help.

Though I actually took a photo before I noticed the sign, no photography was allowed inside the church. Even though you can’t see it, there are still some interesting features to discover.

For one, the floor. Made up of large irregular stones, the flooring fits right into the Alamo environment. They’re very worn, but don’t seem to date from the church’s earliest days. When I asked, my answer was that this flooring was installed in 1937. But if you noticed, the man said, some of the inner doorways are quite short. That’s because the foundation they poured in the ’30’s raised the floor level by 2 feet! One of the people I visited with had speculated that maybe it was because people were shorter then. This is just another reminder of how careful were must be when making assumptions about the past!

Two more features are the notched columns and 3-pronged metal items sticking out of the wall. Notched in the mid-1800’s when the building was used by the U.S. military, the columns served as support for a second story. Windows were even added, but the space remains one story today.

The artistically placed metal spikes are actually flag holders. However, as the integrity of the church has weakened, flags are no longer hung on the decorative prongs. One more thing, the arched roof that you see now was not there until after the Battle of the Alamo when it was added by the U.S. Army.

Once you exit the church, a courtyard with scattered buildings, lots of greenery, and a gift shop directly in front greets you. Even a tiny canal full of koi runs across the complex. But none of this was part of the original Alamo. Take a look at this map. In 1836, what comprised the Alamo is indicated by red.

Looking at the map, I seem to have missed a majority of the grounds. After a quick peek through the gift shop (there are scorpion lollipops), I walked over to the living history encampment. One man was beating out a rhythm on a small drum, and I second man was seated by one of the canvas tents. This man informed me that he was dressed how the Alamo defenders would have been – no fancy military uniforms. In actuality, he said, he should have his coat on, because the gathered shirts were considered part of your underwear. That was because the shirts were long and would be worn to bed. Another group was ready to take their picture with the reenactor, so I stepped away.

Next I went to the exhibit hall. I wanted to find out what exactly the Battle of the Alamo was about. I remembered it had to do with Texas’ independence, but that was about it.

Now the museum does offer a 15-20 minute film about the Alamo, which would likely be useful in giving an overview of the place. However, I didn’t go see it.

Inside the Exhibit Hall, it was cool and dim. I think it could’ve been marked more distinctly where you should start. I realized halfway through that – at least timeline-wise – it would’ve been better to start on the other side of the door.

The one large room had posters, information signs, and collections encircling it, along with cases of artifacts in the center. First, this timeline really helped me. (Not the best picture, but it works.)

To put it simply, the Battle of the Alamo was another fight for rights and independence. The Battle occurred after Mexico had finally gained independence from Spain. A republic was established, but the president, Antonio López de Santa Anna, decided he would like more power. Two factions emerged from the political turmoil: the Centralists, who favored a strong, central government, and the Federalists, who wished for power to be concentrated in the states.

The winning side flip-flopped back and forth. When the state rights of Texas were stripped away, its inhabitants (including about 30,000 Americans) revolted. They declared independence from Mexico; and the mother country moved to squash the uprising. A stronghold of resistance was at the old church and fort, the Alamo.

Though the rebels held out as long as they could, in the end, they were completely overcome.

Watch this video! They’ve got a great, brief history of the Alamo – in rap! 😀

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But the Alamo’s history extends to much more than what we think of when we say, “Remember the Alamo.” Starting as a mission in the 1720’s, the Alamo was then used as a military outpost for first the Spanish and then the Americans. Later in life it became a general store, before becoming the museum it is today.

Overall, the museum was interesting, and quite different from what I’ve been to before. However, if you don’t have much of a grasp on the Battle of the Alamo, I would definitely recommend watching the video, and maybe taking the tour. Perhaps it’s because I didn’t read the exhibit in the right order, but I found it difficult to get a sufficient overview of what happened. (I read a little more online afterward.)

The Alamo

The Alamo today stands at the heart of San Antonio and the heart of what it means to be a Texan. It is managed by the Texas General Land Office on behalf of the people of Texas. People visit from all over the world to see and learn about the mission and fort’s vital role in defending freedom.