The Alamo is often referred to as the “Shrine of Texas Liberty” because it was here that a small group of Texan defenders held out against the Mexican army in a 13-day siege during the Texas Revolution. Though the defenders ultimately fell, their sacrifice became a rallying cry for Texan independence, with “Remember the Alamo!” inspiring future victories.
Planning Your Trip
A stop at The Alamo is a must for anyone interested in American history. The site is open daily, and admission is free, though you must get an entrance ticket for the day of your visit at thealamo.org. They do offer guided tours that you can purchase tickets for on the website as well.
Getting There
The Alamo is easily accessible by foot from most downtown hotels and attractions, including the famous River Walk. We stayed at the Hyatt Regency on The River Walk and we were shocked at how close it was; only about a block away and truly in the middle of the city.
If you’re driving, parking is available in nearby lots and garages, but be prepared for typical city rates.
Things To Do
You’ll want to start your visit at the Alamo Church, where the famous 1836 Battle of the Alamo took place. This is where you will need to show your ticket. Inside, you’ll find a few exhibits detailing the history of the mission and the Texan defenders who fought there.
From there you can walk through the Long Barrack Museum, which offers artifacts and displays that provide a deeper understanding of the mission’s role in Texas history. The museum is housed in one of the original structures from the mission complex.
Next, you can stroll through the Alamo grounds which are very well landscaped. Along the way, you will see the Wall of History, which provides a timeline of key events that led to the battle and its aftermath. You can also check out the Living History Encampment, where reenactors bring the 19th century to life with demonstrations of period crafts and weaponry.
Final Note
Though we consider this a “must do”, after all, you are in San Antonio, and it’s the Alamo, it felt like a bit of a letdown once we were there. The building is surprisingly small and sparse inside.
You can walk around the grounds and there were a few live interpretive exhibits that the kids listened to for a bit, but ultimately, they weren’t engaged for most of our time there and we quickly wrapped our time up in favor of heading to the park and Riverwalk. Also, we looked for Pee-wee’s bike but they told us there was no basement!
