The Alamo today, is awash with tourists and is consistently the number one tourist attraction in all of Texas.
“Remember the Alamo!”
• In the 1700s, the Alamo was built as a home to Spanish missionaries.
• In the 1820s, American settlers arrived, Texas was a part of Mexico.
• In 1821, Mexico won its independence from Spain.
• In early 1836 Texas rebelled saying they are declaring their independence from Mexico.
• Soon Santa Anna gathers an army to march on Texas and take back the Alamo.
• February 23, 1836 Santa Anna commences his seige on the Alamo.
• February 23, 1836 Mexico has 1800 trained soldiers, the Alamo has 200 pioneers and mountain-men.
• On March 6, 1836 The Battle of the Alamo ended, the fort breached and all 200 Texas fighters were killed.
• A few months later, Sam Houston led the Texans to victory over Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto, with the cry of “Remember the Alamo!”
A film telling the story of the Alamo plays daily, at the AMC Rivercenter 11 IMAX, in the mall adjacent to the Alamo.
The Complete Story of the Alamo!
The Battle of the Alamo was fought between the Republic of Texas and Mexico from February 23, 1836 to March 6, 1836. It took place at a fort in San Antonio, Texas called the Alamo. The Mexicans won the battle, killing all of the Texan soldiers inside the fort.
What was the Alamo?
In the 1700s, the Alamo was built as a home to Spanish missionaries. It was called the Mission San Antonio de Valero. Over time, the mission was turned into a fort for Spanish soldiers who called the fort the “Alamo.” In the 1820s, American settlers arrived in San Antonio and began to settle the area.
Leading up to the Battle
In 1821, the country of Mexico won its independence from Spain. At the time, Texas was part of Mexico and Mexico had a government similar to the United States. Many Americans moved to Texas and became Mexican citizens.
In 1832, a powerful Mexican general named Santa Anna took control of the government. The Texans (called “Texians” at the time) didn’t like the new ruler. They rebelled and declared their independence on March 2, 1836. Santa Anna gathered an army to march on Texas and take it back.
Who were the leaders?
The Mexican forces were led by General Santa Anna. He led a large force of around 1,800 troops. The Texans were led by the frontiersman James (Jim) Bowie and Lieutenant Colonel William Travis. There were around 200 Texans defending the Alamo which included the famous folk hero Davy Crockett.
What was the fort like?
The Alamo covered around 3 acres of land which was surrounded with an adobe wall that was between 9 and 12 feet tall. There were buildings inside the fort including a chapel, a barracks for soldiers, a hospital room, a large courtyard, and a horse corral. Cannons were placed along the walls and on top of buildings.
Defend or Retreat?
When the Texans heard that General Santa Anna was coming there was much debate on whether the fort should be abandoned. Sam Houston wanted the fort abandoned and the cannon removed. However, James (Jim) Bowie decided he would stay and defend the fort. Davy Crockett, Lieutenant Colonel William Travis and the rest of the soldiers decided to stay as well. All died in the effort.
The Battle
General Santa Anna and his troops arrived on February 23, 1836. They laid siege to the fort for 13 days. During the first week of the siege more than 200 cannonballs landed in the Alamo plaza. On the morning of March 6, the Mexicans launched their major attack. The Texans managed to fend off the first few attacks, but there were too many Mexican soldiers and they managed to scale the walls and get inside the fort. The fighting was fierce, but eventually the Mexicans won. They killed every soldier in the fort.
Aftermath
Although the Texans lost the battle, it galvanized the rest of Texas against Mexico and General Santa Anna. A few months later, Sam Houston led the Texans to victory over Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto. The Texans rallied to the cry of “Remember the Alamo!” during the battle.
Interesting Facts About the Battle of the Alamo
- Between 400 and 600 Mexican soldiers were killed in the battle. Estimates on the number of Texans killed vary from 182 to 257.
- Not everyone in the fort was killed. Most of the survivors were women, children, servants, and slaves.
- The Alamo was used by Confederate forces during the Civil War.
- During the 1870s, the Alamo was used as a warehouse.
- Today, the Alamo is a popular tourist destination with over 2.5 million people visiting the site each year.
Old Etchings of The Battle of the Alamo
The Missions National Historical Park in San Antonio. In the 18th century, Spanish priests established five Catholic missions along the San Antonio River to serve as centers for an ethnically diverse society. These missions were named the first World Heritage Site in Texas by the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO), and along with the Alamo, the park includes the city’s four southernmost Spanish colonial missions – Concepción, San José, San Juan and Espada. Today, the missions – walled compounds encompassing a church and buildings where the priests and local Native Americans lived – represent the largest concentration of Spanish colonial missions in North America.
(Sources: Texas State Tourism, Wikipedia, and ARTS&FOOD® staff on site reporting and photography.)
