Untitled Notes

The Alamo is a historic site where a small group of defenders famously held off General Antonio Lopez De Santa Anna's centralist army during the Texan Revolution.
The Battle of the Alamo occurred on March 6, 1836, symbolizing courage and sacrifice for liberty.
The current structures on the site include two key buildings: the Alamo Shrine (or Church) and the Long Barracks, which serve as silent reminders of the events and sacrifices made.
San Antonio has grown around the Alamo since the battle, with the Office of the City Clerk maintaining many original documents that detail its development.
Visitor statistics indicate that over 2.5 million people visit the Alamo annually as per the data from the official Alamo website.
The Alamo Shrine remains at the original site where the 1836 Battle took place.
Alamo Plaza, directly in front of the Alamo, was once part of the Alamo’s courtyard and mission compound.
The Alamo was originally constructed in 1724 and was officially named San Antonio de Valero.

1718: Establishment of Mission San Antonio de Valero by Father Olivares.
1731: Arrival of 55 Canary Islanders to establish a civilian settlement, San Fernando de Béxar.
1823: Mexican officials approve Stephen F. Austin's plan to bring 300 families into his colony, known as the "Old Three Hundred."
1813: Spanish government grants Moses Austin permission to establish an Anglo-American colony in Texas. His son, Stephen F. Austin, continues the effort after Moses' death.

1835: Mexican troops try to retrieve a cannon from Gonzales, provoking a skirmish and considered the opening battle of the Texas Revolution.
March 2, 1836: Adoption of the Texas Declaration of Independence at Washington-on-the-Brazos.
March 6, 1836: The 13-day siege of the Alamo ends, leading to the death of all remaining defenders.
March 10, 1836: Sam Houston retreats to avoid the advancing Mexican army, leading to the Runaway Scrape, during which panic stricken settlers fled.
March 27, 1836: Execution of approximately 350 Texan prisoners at Goliad by Santa Anna's order.
April 21, 1836: Texan troops defeat Santa Anna’s army at the Battle of San Jacinto.
May 14, 1836: Signing of the Treaties of Velasco between Santa Anna and President David Burnet, establishing Texas independence.

1841: The Republic of Texas returns the church of the Alamo to the Catholic Church.
1848: The U.S. Government takes control of the Alamo building and grounds after the annexation of Texas.
1850: Renovations include the addition of a wooden roof and the iconic bell-shaped façade on the Alamo church.
1877: The Alamo is vacated by the U.S. Army.
1878: Streetcars begin operation in Alamo Plaza.
1879: Formation of the Alamo Monument Association to purchase and preserve Alamo remains.
1883: The State of Texas purchases the church property and places it under the City of San Antonio's care.
1905: Control of the Alamo is transferred to the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT).
1936: Texas celebrates 100 years of statehood with a focus on the legacy of the Alamo.
1939: Completion of the Alamo Cenotaph, a memorial dedicated to the defenders of the Alamo.

Constructed in 1939 at the north end of Alamo Plaza to commemorate the slain defenders.
It features carvings of notable figures such as William B. Travis, Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett, and James B. Bonham.
The cenotaph bears the inscription: "Erected in Memory of the Heroes who sacrificed their lives at the Alamo, March 6, 1836 in the defense of Texas, 'They chose never to surrender nor retreat, these brave hearts with flag still proudly waving perished in the flames of immortality that their high sacrifice might lead to the founding on this Texas.'"

The Alamo is part of various city block surveys that illustrate urban planning in San Antonio, including City Block Number 115 and projections for urban growth surrounding the Alamo.
Significant surveys completed between 1849 to 1914 captured changes to Alamo Plaza and its adjacent properties as the area developed.
The city’s beautification efforts in the early 1900s included removal of the convento building's second floor in 1912, repaving Alamo Plaza in 1915, and extensive landscaping around the Alamo Complex.
In 1935, improvements were finalized, resulting in the aesthetics resembling the modern-day appearance of Alamo Plaza.

The Alamo has become a symbol of Texas independence, embodying themes of sacrifice and nobility in the struggle for liberation.
Over the decades, it has drawn interest from tourists and historians, becoming an integral part of Texas's cultural heritage.