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 Updated: 2/11/2012 
The Alamo
San Antonio, Texas
History

The Alamo began its existence in 1718 as Mission San Antonio de Valero, the oldest of San Antonio's five Spanish mission. In 1724, Spanish officials relocated Valero to the spot that the Alamo now occupies. Two original building remain from the mission period (1724-1793)-the church, or modem Shrine, and the convento, or Long Barrack. The mission was desecularized in 1793. Around 1803, a Spanish cavalry unit called the Second Flying Company of San Carlos de Parras, was quartered in the former mission compound and the site began several decades of use by the military, first Spanish followed by Mexican, Texan, United States, Confederate, and then U.S. again. The Alamo is best remembered for the epic battle which occurred in 1836 as one of the key events of the Texas Revolution. In 1847, the U.S. Army rented the Alamo from the Catholic Archdiocese and converted the Long Barrack into offices and storerooms, doing the same to the church in 1850. When the army moved to Government Hill (Fort Sam Houston) in 1876, the site underwent a period of commercial development. The State of Texas acquired the church in 1883 but the Long Barrack remained in private hands until 1905 when the State Legislature finally authorized its purchase. The site expanded in the 1930s with the acquisition of several acres east of the Shrine and the construction of the Alamo Sales Museum and Arcade as well as the conversion of Fire Station No. 2 into Alamo Hall. In 1950, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library opened on the grounds. In 1968, the Long Barrack Museum was opened in conjunction with HemisFair: its current permanent exhibit was installed in 1985. In 1997, a permanent outdoor exhibit known as the Wall of History was installed that depicts the Alamo's 300 year-long historic past. The Alamo is managed and operated by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, who were granted custodianship of the site by the State Legislature in 1905 in recognition for their efforts to keep the Long Barrack out of the hands of commercial developers so it could be preserved as a historic site. According to Texas Law, the DRT must preserve the Alamo as a sacred memorial to the heroes who immolated themselves upon that hallowed ground. The DRT receives no monetary help from local, state, or federal government, depending solely on money from donations and proceeds from the gift shop to preserve the complex and maintain exhibits.

Artifact Collections

The Curator's Office maintains photographic files of public events at the Alamo and ceremonial occasions. Photo documentation is also maintained on any preservation or restoration to the historic buildings. These collections are in the process of being recatalogued.

The collection of accessioned items numbers 1,200. Its scope is oriented to the Alamo. There are several items that belonged to men who died in the Battle of 1836. The remainder of the collection, oriented on Texas history, consists of artifacts such as weapons, tools, and personal items.

Programs

Lectures and tours.

Street Address
300 Alamo Plaza
San Antonio, TX 78205
Mailing Address
P. O. Box 2599
San Antonio, TX 78299
phone: 210-225-1391
fax: 210-354-3602
e-mail: alamochair@thealamo.org
home page: www.thealamo.org
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Hours of Operation

Monday - Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
December 24-25 Closed

Admission
Museum Type(s)
History
Historic House
Staff
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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

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March 15 - 18, 2025

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Saturday, March 15 - Tuesday, March 18, 2025

The Inn at Virginia Tech

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Hosted by: Virginia Association of Museums

2025 Conference Theme: Looking Back to the Future For the past several years, many museums have been deeply involved in planning programs and events to observe the 250th birthday of the United States of America. While this is certainly an occasion to celebrate, this anniversary also forces us as a society to reckon with ongoing inequities and challenges within the US that go back to its inception. As museums ask their audiences to look to the past to understand the present and shape a better future, perhaps now is a good moment in time for Virginia’s museum community to take pause and look back at its own history. We are excited to see you in Blacksburg in March 2025 as we take a moment in our hectic schedules to take pause and visit our diverse pasts. Let’s uncover and share our histories to build a more resilient Virginia museum community.

Ohio Museum Asociation 2025 Annual Conference - Athens

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Saturday, March 29 - Monday, March 31, 2025

TBA

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Hosted by: Ohio Museums Association

"Innovation: Museums and Reaching our Potential

The heart of innovation is transformation – shaking up our established way of doing things by introducing new methods, new ideas, and new approaches to both obstacles and opportunities

Museums across Ohio are not just adapting, but innovating to reach their full potential and better serve their communities. No matter their role, museum professionals are introducing forward-thinking perspectives and initiating creative solutions to launch the field into a future where museums can remain trusted and relevant community cornerstones

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Join us in Athens, March 29-31 as we explore these topics and more at the 2025 Ohio Museums Association’s Annual Conference: Innovation: Museums and Reaching our Potential.

For more information, please email oma@ohiohistory.org.

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Sunday, March 30 - Monday, March 31, 2025

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By facilitating discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities, the conference will empower current and future museum professionals and to expand their impact, embrace new challenges, and create meaningful connections with their audiences and communities.

Arkansas Museums Association 2025 Conference

March 31 - April 3, 2025

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Monday, March 31 - Thursday, April 3, 2025

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Hosted by: Arkansas Museums Association

"From the Ground Up: Cultivating Essential Skills in Museums

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For more information, please email arkansasmuseums@gmail.com.

New York Museum Association 2025 Conference in Ithaca, NY

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