Arriving at the Alamo, I expected grandeur, but what I found was a modest compound nestled in the heart of San Antonio. The chapel, with its weathered limestone walls, and the adjacent Long Barrack, where much of the fighting occurred, stood before me. Despite its humble appearance, this site holds the blood and sweat of the soldiers of the Texas Revolution in 1836.
Inside the chapel, now more of a tomb than a place of worship, the space felt surprisingly small. It was hard to imagine that such a great moment in history took place within these walls. The sparse furnishings gave a glimpse into what life might have been like in the 1700s.
One highlight was the new Alamo Exhibit at the Ralston Family Collections Center. Here, I explored artifacts from the Phil Collins Collection, the Donald and Louise Yena Spanish Colonial Collection, and more. One particularly rare find was the Spanish Colonial Padre’s Hat, made of palm leaf and leather. It was the only one ever found by the original collectors, a testament to its rarity.
Exiting the chapel, I took a moment to reflect on what I had just experienced. While living a busy life, it’s easy to forget the events that took place here over a century ago. But the phrase “Remember the Alamo” is a powerful reminder of the struggle of roughly 200 Texian defenders who faced off against a Mexican army of over 2,000 soldiers. As I left the historic site, I carried with me a newfound appreciation for the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring legacy of the Alamo.
