Alamo, San Antonio

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We took such a tour with those red colored trolley cabins, and enjoyed it a lot. If you take such a tour through and out of San Antonio, and you would get TJ as your driver/tour guide, then a most interesting tour is promised anyway.

The Historic Tour encludes:

The Alamo
Founded in 1718, where 189 Texians and Tejanos fought against Santa Anna's army in the battle that inspired the cry Remember the Alamo.

Imax Theatre, Rivercenter Mall, Riverboat Rides
Relive the Battle of the Alamo on the IMAX Theatre's six-story screen in "Alamo...the Price of Freedom." Also showing other IMAX features including 3D. Shop in Rivercenter Mall's 130 stores and restaurants then catch a Riverboat ride in the lagoon.

Institute of Texan Cultures
Where you will find interactive displays of 27 ethnic and cultural groups that settled the state and a multimedia presentation in the Dome Theater. Hemisfair Park - Site of the 1968 world's fair and home to the 622 ft. Tower of the Americas.

Mission San José
At the Visitor Center see how the missions formed the foundation of the city and learn about South Texas' unique history and colorful culture. Learn how life was inside the mission walls.

Mission Concepción
Original frescos are still visible within the rooms of the mission. This is the oldest unrestored stone church in our nation today.

Market Square
A taste of old Mexico. Arts, crafts and food in a unique market setting with over 50 specialty shops.

San Fernando Cathedral
Founded in 1738, this is among the oldest Catholic parish churches in the southwest. Main Plaza - the heart of San Antonio dating from 1772. Plaza De Armas - the original site of the Spanish Presidio and home of the Spanish Governor when Texas was under Spanish rule.

La Villita
San Antonio's oldest surviving neighborhood dating from the 1750's is now alive with artists and craftsmen, shops and restaurants.

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We took such a tour with those red colored trolley cabins. If you take such a tour through and out of San Antonio, and you would get TJ as your driver/tour guide, then a most interesting tour is promised anyway.

The Historic Tour encludes:

The Alamo
Founded in 1718, where 189 Texians and Tejanos fought against Santa Anna's army in the battle that inspired the cry Remember the Alamo.

Imax Theatre, Rivercenter Mall, Riverboat Rides
Relive the Battle of the Alamo on the IMAX Theatre's six-story screen in "Alamo...the Price of Freedom." Also showing other IMAX features including 3D. Shop in Rivercenter Mall's 130 stores and restaurants then catch a Riverboat ride in the lagoon.

Institute of Texan Cultures
Where you will find interactive displays of 27 ethnic and cultural groups that settled the state and a multimedia presentation in the Dome Theater. Hemisfair Park - Site of the 1968 world's fair and home to the 622 ft. Tower of the Americas.

Mission San José
At the Visitor Center see how the missions formed the foundation of the city and learn about South Texas' unique history and colorful culture. Learn how life was inside the mission walls.

Mission Concepción
Original frescos are still visible within the rooms of the mission. This is the oldest unrestored stone church in our nation today.

Market Square
A taste of old Mexico. Arts, crafts and food in a unique market setting with over 50 specialty shops.

San Fernando Cathedral
Founded in 1738, this is among the oldest Catholic parish churches in the southwest. Main Plaza - the heart of San Antonio dating from 1772. Plaza De Armas - the original site of the Spanish Presidio and home of the Spanish Governor when Texas was under Spanish rule.

La Villita
San Antonio's oldest surviving neighborhood dating from the 1750's is now alive with artists and craftsmen, shops and restaurants.

The Alamo is easily accessable from anywhere close to the Riverwalk. The various rooms have historical information on the fort's history. A plaque hangs in one of the rooms listing all the people killed at the Battle of the Alamo.

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In 1724, the Mision San Antonio de Valero, now known as the Alamo, was establsihed by Franciscan friars to convert local Indians to Christianity and help maintain Spanish control over the region. For nearly 70 years, the Alamo was a thriving village and mission.

When Valero was desecularized in 1793, the lands were distributed to Indian converts from the missions, who continued to farm the lands and contributed to the origination of San Antonio.

The Alamo is most known for its role in the Texas Revolution, where in the early morning of March 6, 1836, a small band of Texans held off the army of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna for thirteen days. American heroes, such as James Bowie, David Crockett and William B. Travis lost their lives in this historic battle. These sacrifices empowered the Texan Army, led by Sam Houston at the battle of San Jacito on April 21, 1836, where "Remember the Alamo" became the war cry.

Today, visitors can still explore the centuries of history this little mission holds.

"The Alamo (San Antonio de Valero Mission) is a former mission and fortress compound, now a museum, in San Antonio, Texas located at 300 Alamo Plaza. The compound, which originally comprised a sanctuary and surrounding buildings, was built by the Spanish Empire in the 18th century for the education of local Native Americans after their conversion to Christianity. After its abandonment as a mission, it was used as a fortress in the 19th century and was the scene of several military actions, including most notably the 1836 Battle of the Alamo, one of the pivotal battles between the forces of the Republic of Texas and Mexico during the Texas Revolution."
~ Wikipedia

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The Alamo is the very symbol of San Antonio; indeed of Texas freedom itself. I'm sure you know the story of the battle at the Alamo. Movies have been made about this very famous battle in 1836, which sowed the seeds of the creation of the Republic (now, State) of Texas.

The first thing I noticed about this official Texas state shrine is that it's literally in the middle of the city. Those of us who have seen the movies probably expect it to be in the middle of this vast open space. It's actually a part of the city itself, across the street from a Ripley's Museum (not what Davy Crockett was thinking, no doubt). The city grew up around the Alamo.

The main building of this former Spanish mission, the shrine, is a very reverent place, quite informative too. It has many displays & artifacts on the history of the Alamo, the battle itself, and a salute to all states and countries where men came from to fight in this battle. No picture taken is permitted inside the shrine. The rest of the Alamo property includes well-manicured gardens, other buildings you may be interested in, and a gift shop. The day I visited, they had displays of the weaponry and music of the times on the Alamo grounds. Walk around the grounds, take as much or as little time as you'd like. You can buy a set of headphones and plug into a narrated tour too.

Admission is free, and it's open everyday but Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The Alamo is usually on of the first stops on anyone's visit to San Antonio. It has a special place in the hearts of most Americans and, especially, Texans.

I must confess that I really had no idea of the history behind the Alamo and though I had planned on reading up on it before I went to Texas I never got around to it. So I was glad that we ran across a park ranger giving a talk about what had actually happened leading up to, during and after March 6, 1836 when the Alamo fell to the Mexican troops led by Santa Ana.

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Lets face it, 9 times out of 10, the main attraction that draws you to a town is going to be the Alamo when it comes to San Antonio. The Alamo is a famous former mission turned battle ground that is near and dear to many Texans. The reason it is so dear is that this was the true beginning to the war of Independence from Mexico, when Santa Ana’s troops numbering in the thousands were held in check by 189 brave Texans (some were from Tennessee, but anyone who lays down his life for Texas is a Texan in my book). The 189 brave souls were able to keep Santa Ana occupied while General Sam Houston rallied troops to defend Texas, who eventually defeated Santa Ana months later. The 189 sacrificed all, as not a man survived, which is why those men are heroes in Texas. The cry “Remember the Alamo” is still something near and dear to Texans. This place is so special to Texans, that accused artist Ozzy Ozborne was forbidden to hold a concert anywhere in Texas after he was caught urinating on the building. Also, despite his best attempts, Pee Wee Herman was never able to find his bicycle in the basement at the Alamo (since there is not a basement). Overall, this historical site is well worth the time spent, and there were surely be a lot learned.

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Located in Alamo Plaza, the small park between the Alamo and Alamo Street is the Alamo Cenotaph...(how many Alamos can you squeeze into a single coherent sentence?). Little did I know when I visited, the Cenotaph was created way back in 1939. Greek for "empty tomb," the Cenotaph stands where many believe the surviving Alamo defenders were killed and burned. It is engraved with the names of those who died here and has carvings of many of the more famous defenders such as Crockett and Bowie. The sculptor, Italian Pompeo Coppini, also has other carvings in the city.

The Cenotaph stands at the northern end of the Alamo Plaza. This plaza is the heart of the city's history and entertainment areas, siting in the center of the Riverwalk, Rivercenter Mall, the Spurs Arena, the Alamo of course, and numerous other historic buildings in downtown San Antonio.