The Alamo

Wednesday August 19, 2026

The Alamo is Texas's most famous historic site. It's known as a church where a battle for the Texas Revolution was fought, but it was not actually a church at the time. The Alamo was originally Mission San Antonio de Valero from 1724 to 1793. Around 1803 it became a military fort where it was given its current name The Alamo. The battle of the Alamo took place on March 6, 1836. It is in what is now downtown San Antonio. The church building and the long barracks were preserved, but parts of the rest of the original site's wall are now under buildings.

In the Collections building there is a model of The Alamo at the time of the battle. The church building was not finished at this point; the top of the building including the roof was added after the battle.

The Alamo Model Model of the Alamo

I took the guided tour of The Alamo. If you can afford it, get the tour since it also helps support the site.

The Alamo - Inside Inside the Alamo

In one of the side chapels, there was a recreation of the original wall art that has since faded. They used this piece of plexiglas over the original to show what it looked like.

Wall Art with the Recreation on Plastic Over It Wall Art

Apse of the Alamo with Flags Apse of the Alamo Church Building

Side Chapel inside the Church Building Side Chapel

While parts of the west side of grounds are now streets and parts of buildings, the other side behind the church includes an area outside the original walls where the gift shops, collections building, education center and gardens are now. In the gardens there is a good view of the back of the church building.

The Alamo Back, Where the Canon Was Placed Back of the Alamo

A few spots of the walls have been recreated including the mission gate.

Mission Gate with Dirt Walls and Wood Palisade Mission Gate

By the recreated palisade, there is a statue of Davy Crockett.

Davy Crockett Statue

Cannon at the Alamo Cannon

In the middle of what was the courtyard, near where the new museum is being built, is the Cenotaph also known as The Spirit of Sacrifice, honoring the defenders of The Alamo. It was built in 1940.

Cenotaph - Monument with Fence Around It The Cenotaph

The state of Texas is currently improving the site with a new museum and preservation work inside the church. You have to get a ticket to tour the church, which help spread out and limit the number of people through there. You can get tickets for tours or just a visit in advance on the website. The mission San Antonio de Valero was only one of several mission established in the area. Next we will go down the San Antonio river to the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park.