The Alamo

The Alamo is an 18th-century Spanish colonial mission in the heart of downtown San Antonio, Texas, occupying an entire city block at 300 Alamo Plaza. Founded in 1718 as Mission San Antonio de Valero, it served as a Roman Catholic mission for nearly a century before being secularized and later used as a military garrison. The site is most famous for the Battle of the Alamo in February and March 1836, a 13-day siege in which a force of roughly 200 Texian and Tejano defenders — including James Bowie, Davy Crockett, and William Barrett Travis — was overwhelmed by a Mexican Army of approximately 1,800 under General Antonio López de Santa Anna. All defenders were killed, but the battle became a rallying cry for Texas independence: "Remember the Alamo" galvanized the Texas Army to victory at San Jacinto six weeks later, establishing the Republic of Texas. Today the Alamo is administered by the Texas General Land Office and the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and functions as a museum and shrine to Texas liberty. The Long Barrack — the oldest extant structure on the site, built around 1718 — contains permanent exhibits on the mission's history, the 1836 battle, and the stories of the individuals who fought and died there. The iconic church façade, with its distinctive curved parapet, is the most photographed structure in Texas. The surrounding Alamo Plaza is a public space with vendors and history exhibits. Admission to the church and Long Barrack is free; a ticketed immersive experience opened in 2023 provides extended access to collections and digital recreations of the 1836 battle.