When you visit San Antonio there is one place you MUST go. I'm pretty sure they won't allow you to fly home unless you've been there for a visit. That is the Alamo. In 1744 Spanish missionaries laid the foundation after several different sites. For 70 years this was home to the Spanish missionaries and their converts. Four more missions were established in the San Antonio area after the Alamo.
After the decline of the Spanish rule and Mexico declaring its independence the Alamo became a military outpost and remained so. In the 1820's an effort was made to increase the population in Texas, so Mexico opened it up to Americans who wanted to colonize.
What started as a trickle soon turned into a full on flood. Much like the American Revolution, with the feeling ignored in how the country and their state in particular was run. It was the job of the Alamo Company to bring back the cannon given to the inhabitants of San Antonio to use as protection against the Comanches. Well they weren't about to give it up. In fact they turned on the soldiers, refused to give it back and taunted at them "Come and Take It". Well hello Texas Revolution.
Two significant battles were fought in San Antonio, the Siege and Battle of Bexar and the Battle of the Alamo. While the rebels were successful in the first they were not in the second. The assault on the mission and killing of all the Texan defenders led to the now famous battle cry "Remember the Alamo". Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett were among the brave fighters.
The grounds of the Alamo were lovely, much of the gardens were in bloom and there were historical reenactors talking to visitors. Both in the Long Barracks and the Alamo Mission itself there are exhibits telling you about the history of the Alamo and the Texas Revolution. In 2011 the Alamo and the other San Antonio missions were nominated to go on the UNESCO World Heritage List because of their key role in American history.
Post a Comment