The Alamo

The Alamo, Mission San Antonio de Valero, is the first and most famous mission located along the Historic Mission Trail. It was established in 1718, the first of five Spanish missions founded in San Antonio to Christianize and educate resident Indians. The church structure that stands today in midtown was begun about 1755. Its mission role completed, the old buildings were abandoned by 1836 when the site, by then known as the Alamo, became the "cradle of Texas Liberty." Texas volunteers defied a Mexican army of thousands for 13 days of siege (from Feb. 23 to Mar. 6) rebelling against repressions of Mexico's self-proclaimed dictator, Santa Anna. The fought until the last man but they died with fabled courage, determination, and love for their state. These men included William Travis, Davy Crockett, and Jim Bowie. Their battle for freedom was marked just the beginning of Texas' plight for independence that was ultimately victorious April 21 when Sam Houston's Texans routed the Mexican army at the Battle of San Jacinto near Houston, and captured "the Napoleon of the West," as Santa Anna billed himself.