RATING: ♦♦♦♦+
Next to Gettysburg, the Alamo is perhaps the most famous battleground site in the country. It’s been the subject of movies, TV shows, and songs. The site itself is not all that impressive, but the battle on March 6, 1836 was clearly a pivotal event in the history of Texas, as well as Mexico and the United States.
Ironically, the Alamo is the site of a horrible defeat for Texas. Mexico won the battle and nearly all the defenders of the Alamo lost their lives, including Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, and William Travis. But what makes the Alamo significant is that the defeat led to a decisive Texas victory. Within a few weeks, on April 21, 1836, Texas had thoroughly defeated the same Mexican army at the Battle of San Jacinto and won its independence. A few years later, Texas was admitted to the Union.
It addition to the history surrounding the famous battle, we found the entire 300 year history of the Alamo fascinating. Originally established in 1718 as a Spanish mission called Mission San Antonio de Valero, and reestablished in 1724, it was the first of five missions along the San Antonio River. Outside the mission was the Presidio San Antonio de Bexar. Close by was the first civilian community in Texas, San Antonio de Bexar (now San Antonio, Texas).
The mission was abandoned in 1793, but the fort continued to be used off and on over the years, eventually being called the Alamo (named after a Spanish garrison stationed there). The Mexicans took it over from the Spanish in 1821 after they won their independence, and used it as a military outpost until 1835.
When the Texas Revolution broke out against Mexico, the Texans had an early victory in San Antonio, driving the Mexicans out from the Alamo in December 1835. However, the Mexicans retook the fort shortly thereafter in March 1836. But their victory was short lived, and they lost the entire state of Texas in April after the Battle of San Jacinto.
The Alamo was used by the U.S. Army as a military outpost in 1846 during the Mexican-American War, and by the Confederate Army in 1851 during the American Civil War. After this, the U.S. Army took possession until 1876.
Most of the land was then sold off to private individuals. But in 1892, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas was organized to help preserve what was left of the Alamo, and finally gained control in 1902. After extensive restoration, the Alamo developed into a major tourist attraction. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark on December 19, 1960, and is now one of the most visited historic site in the United States.
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and all the history we learned there.
