THE ALAMO MISSION - FORT ALAMO

The visitor to San Antonio must come and see the Alamo site, as it is an integral part of the Texas identity. In addition to its small gardens, there are two main buildings to see: the temple and the stone museum that houses many artifacts related to the famous battle.

Every year, more than 2.5 million visitors come to this place where a small band of revolutionary Texans valiantly defended the Christian mission against the onslaught of Mexican troops. But by March 6, 1836, not a single Texan soldier was left alive. History records that all of them perished, after 13 days of fighting. Since then, this episode in the history of the state symbolizes the courage and the spirit of sacrifice for the defense of freedom. It left a deep impression on the independence movements that were stirring up this region of the United States at the time and had the effect of strengthening revolutionary aspirations. A few days later, on April 21, when General Sam Houston addressed his men shortly before fighting the same Mexican troops at the Battle of San Jacinto, he knew how to motivate his soldiers by shouting, "Remember the Alamo. The Alamo was originally called San Antonio de Valero. Today, it remains one of the oldest monuments in Texas. Its construction dates back to April 1718, when the Spanish Crown, with the support of the Papacy, decided to establish a mission in this part of North America to support its expansionist plans. Soon, the governor of Spanish Texas, Martin Alarcón, had some houses built to form a community called San Antonio de Bexar. After a few months, the authorities realized that the mission was located on the wrong side of the river and was therefore often flooded. A transfer was made. San Antonio de Valero was moved to another side of the river, but in 1724 a terrible hurricane destroyed it. It was finally rebuilt on the other side of the river where it faces San Antonio de Bexar, and where it stands today.

The following years saw its extension. A large two-story stone building was built as a residence for the priests. It overlooks a small self-sufficient village. More than 300 converted Indians lived on the site. All the residents, priests and civilians alike, spend long hours tending to the livestock and growing vegetables. Curiously, the church was never completed, as evidenced by its original plans. Then the mission expanded further and the buildings were built with increasingly resistant materials. Walls protected the homes of the converted Indians, who were perceived as traitors by some outside tribes. Little by little, the mission militarized its defense. At the end of the ^18th century, it acquired several cannons to respond to possible attacks. But, in the meantime, it lost its men. The almost 2,000 natives who lived there at the end of the 1780s had to leave following an agricultural reform that no longer allowed the mission to own as many heads of cattle. It then lost all its influence on the region and was gradually abandoned.

What remained were the walls, which the local army recovered in 1806 to turn into a prison. The fierce opponents of independence were locked up there. San Antonio de Valero became the Alamo. The army also used it as a health center. In 1821, once Mexican independence was established, the Alamo was no longer Spanish. It then became Fort Alamo, with new military installations. It remained in Mexican hands until 1835, when it was seized by Texas independence fighters. Their control of the site was short-lived, as in March 1836, Mexican troops crushed them.

This essential visit is very entertaining, with, at the entrance, military men of the time dressed up in front of the mission. Then there are outdoor tables with historians who will inform you about what life was like in the early ^19th century. An exhibit center, the Ralston Family Collections, offers maps and artifacts that trace the history of the Alamo. Cannons from the same era are also on display outside. Finish your visit in the gift shop, with an assortment of cowboy hats, t-shirts, history books, water bottles, and all sorts of nice souvenirs to bring back from your trip.

In recent years, there have been several debates about the "myth" of the Battle of the Alamo. Be careful not to mention this in front of your guide, who may not agree. Some historians say that the story of the Alamo has been romanticized for 200 years to embellish the heroism of its soldiers and the history of Texas and the United States. They say it's time for a reality check. It is said that William Travis never drew a line in the sand (this was a tale concocted by an amateur historian in the late ^19th century). There is no evidence that Davy Crockett fought, as John Wayne did in his 1960 film The Alamo, a great film but a source of misinformation. In fact, there are many accounts by Mexican soldiers that Crockett surrendered to the Mexicans and was executed. Everyone believes what they want...