The Battle of the Alamo has become a defining moment in the struggle for Texan Independence. After American migrants moved into mostly uninhabited northern Mexico they wanted to be independent and form the Republic Of Texas. The Battle of the Alamo was a defining moment in the Texas Revolution that saw a 13-day siege by the Mexican Army in an attempt to take the Alamo Mission and crush the revolution.

The bravery of the defenders together with the cruelty of the Mexican commander President General Santa Anna inspired more Texians to join the course and seek revenge. The next month the Texians went on to defeat the Mexican Army at the Battle of San Jacinto.

About The Battle Of The Alamo

  • Date: 23rd February to 6th March 1836
  • Result: Mexican (Hollow) Victory
  • Texian Defenders: 185-260
  • Mexican Army: Around 2,500
  • Famous Defenders: William Travis, James Bowie, and David Crockett

The Battle of the Alamo happened after the Texians had driven all the Mexican troops out of what was then Mexican Texas. In response, the Mexicans assembled an army and marched north to quell the situation. At first, there was only skirmishing between the two armies and then the Mexican Army marched to the Alamo. The United States only provided minimal assistance as more would have been an act of war against Mexico.

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On March 6 battle was joined as the Mexican Army advanced on the Alamo. The Texian defenders were able to repel the first two attacks, but on the third attack, they broke under its weight. The Mexicans scaled the walls and the Texans retreated back into the interior buildings. The Texians were cut down nearly to the man. It's possible a handful surrendered to the Mexicans but if they did they were soon executed.

As word spread it triggered both panic and a rush to join the fledging Texian army. In the panic, the newly self-proclaimed (but unrecognized) Republic of Texas government fled toward the US ahead of the victorious advancing Mexican Army.

The Texians did not collapse however and they managed to emerge victoriously. In many ways, the conflict was the forerunner to the larger Mexican-American War of 1846-48. The battle has since loomed large in the Texan consciousness and has been enshrined in a number of movies and television adaptations. Two of these are the 1960 movie The Alamo starring John Wayne and the 1950s miniseries Davy Crockett.

Visting The Alamo

Visiting the Alamo is a must for anyone visiting San Antonio - or Texas in general. It is one of the more important military historical sights to America (others one should visit the Pearl Harbor Memorial, the Historic Triangle in Virginia, the Battle of the Little Bighorn, and the Battle of Gettysburg).

Today it is something of a shrine to Texan independence and freedom. Each year around three million visitors come to see this iconic Texan landmark. The real-life Alamo is nothing like the large sprawling fortress on the Texan prairie as depicted as John Wayne played the valiant last-man-standing role of Davy Crockett.

  • Number of Visitors: 3 Million Annually

Instead, it is a weathered limestone church and looks more like a downsized replica than the real thing. Its dwarfed by the hotels surrounding it and often people are dazzled by just how small it is.

  • Size Of The Church: 63 Feet Wide, 33 Feet Tall
  • Date Built: 1724
  • Opening Hours: 9.00 am to 7.00 pm
  • Admission Fee: Free But Visitors Must Reserve a Timed Entry Ticket To Go Inside The Church

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Guided Tours

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One of the best ways to see The Alamo today is with a guided tour. It may be small but a guide will really bring the past to life. The guided tours are an hour long and are conducted by an experienced Alamo history interpreter. Some of the locations of the battle are now buried beneath the streets of San Antonio and the guide will be able to identify everything of note. One can book these tours here.

The locations of the tour include:

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  • The Church
  • Long Barrack
  • West Wall
  • Palisade
  • Convento Courtyard
  • Acequia
  • Main Gate
  • Southwest Corner and Losoya House
  • Garden
  • Exhibit Hall
  • Encampment

Tour Details

  • Times Of Tours: 9.30 am, 10.30 am, 11.30 am, 1.00 pm, and 3.00 pm
  • Location: Alamo Plaza
  • Dates: Everyday
  • Cost: $40.00 Per Adult

This is a very important part of Texan history and has famously seen five flags of different countries fly over its land (the United States, The Confederacy, Republic Of Texas, Mexican, and the Spanish) and it has served as a garrison for five different armies. It has 300 years of history of which the Battle of Alamo is the most famous.

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