The Alamo (San Antonio, Texas)
San Antonio · Texas · Texas Revolution
History & Significance
Established as San Antonio de Valero, named after Saint Anthony of Padua and the viceroy of New Spain, the mission was formally entrusted on May 1 to Father Antonio de San Buenaventura y Olivares. The mission was located near a community of Coahuiltecans and was initially populated by converts from an earlier mission; nearby, Governor Alarcón built the Presidio San Antonio de Béxar and founded the first civilian community in Texas.
After a hurricane destroyed the original structures in 1724, the mission moved to its present site; the chapel cornerstone was laid in 1744 and reconstruction began in 1758 but was never completed. The mission was secularized in 1793 and then abandoned; ten years later it became a fortress housing military units, likely earning the name Alamo from the Second Flying Company of San Carlos de Parras.
On February 23, 1836, the Mexican Army under General Antonio López de Santa Anna began a thirteen-day siege that ended on March 6, when Mexican troops killed all of the approximately 189 Texian defenders. The Texians defeated Santa Anna's army at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836; his capture ended the war. In 1883 Texas purchased the chapel, and in 1904 Clara Driscoll of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas purchased the Long Barrack to ensure preservation as a memorial.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Spanish mission-era chapel and fortress ruins from 1718
- 1836 Texas Revolution battle site where Bowie and Crockett died
- Museum exhibits on siege history and early Texas military conflict
- Historic grounds within the Alamo Plaza Historic District
Sources
- https://www.nps.gov/subjects/travelspanishmissions/mission-san-antonio-de-valero-the-alamo.htm
- https://www.nps.gov/places/mission-san-antonio-de-valero-3rd-site-the-alamo.htm
- https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/alamo
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alamo_Mission
- https://www.thealamo.org/remember
- https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/siege-alamo
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Alamo