If you are staying anywhere near San Antonio, then visiting the Alamo and Riverwalk are probably on the list of places to see! They were on our list too and I was super excited! One weekday in late January, 2022 when the weather was fairly balmy, we drove from Lake Medina in the hill country into the heart of San Antonio. Before we came to the area, I had never realized that the historic Alamo site is now in downtown San Antonio! In my mind, I had always pictured the Alamo sitting by itself in the countryside with tumbleweeds blowing and just a few people walking through to see the historic site. This is not the case! The Alamo is literally across the street from the Riverwalk section of downtown and the actual historic site is not very big – maybe 2-3 city blocks. There are also a lot of people there! It’s recommended that you buy tickets for a day/time slot in advance since they do sell out on some days. Once you get there you wait in queues by time slot to be allowed into the historic area. However, it was worth the headache of finding downtown parking and waiting to get in!
When you first walk up to the Alamo, you enter a paved plaza area where there is a large tribute sculpture to the heroes of the Alamo. When you reach the center of the plaza the mission church where the Alamo defenders took their final stand is the prominent feature. We purchased an auditory tour package where you get the hand-held “phone” where you can listen to recorded narration as you go through the sites/exhibits. This was definitely worth the more expensive ticket price! When they let our tour group in, we entered the courtyard area of the mission church first. You can see several places where cannonballs took out big chunks of the exterior of the church. This sets the tone for when you open the door and go into the mission building itself. When I opened the front door of the mission and stepped inside, there was an immediate change in the atmosphere. There was a feeling of reverence and quietness even though the building was filled with people. I got the sense that this was a deeply spiritual experience for most of us as we each felt the weight and significance of what happened in this building. It’s one thing to learn about the Alamo from a book or a video/movie, it’s another thing entirely to be standing on the ground where so many people believed in their cause enough to willingly fight to their very last breath.
As you leave the church, the atmosphere changes as you tour through the gardens, barracks and finally the museum exhibit that houses all of the historic artifacts and tells the Alamo story in detail. The gardens are peaceful, and it feels like the earth is at peace with how history unfolded here. There is an amazing pecan tree in the middle of one of the gardens that has been there since the church was built! The barracks and commemorative plaza area are interesting as you learn more about the individuals and lifestyle of those who lived and died here. The main museum area is fascinating as you walk through the events before, during, and after the battle of the Alamo.
I had never paid attention to the events that were happening in Mexico and Texas before the Alamo. The context is always important but often overlooked! The Mexican government at that time took a big shift towards a more authoritarian government that caused the rebellion among the Texans. The large contingent of U.S. people that moved into this area had a freedom mindset which they were not about to give up! I had seen the famous “Texas Cannon” flag with the words “Come and Take It” before but didn’t realize it came from this time period when Mexico was trying to take back the canons used to defend the Texas territory. After viewing the Alamo Museum and seeing the row of canons just across from the museum I had an “Oh, now I get it!” moment! When you’re not from Texas, your level of attention to Texas history isn’t always up to par!
The one thing that struck me the most during the museum tour was the letters written by the co-commander William B. Travis. Travis knew their fighting force wasn’t sufficient to hold the Alamo and asked for reinforcements from both Texas and the U.S. When it became clear that help wasn’t coming, Travis and James Bowie (co-commanders) had a decision to make. They could have taken their men and fled. Yet, the words of Travis in his communications make it clear that they understood how important the Alamo was to the Texas resistance. They clearly believed that their cause had a very important place in history. They refused to leave even knowing that they would probably lose their lives. I had an introspective moment reading Travis’s words! In our culture of comfort and safety today, do any of us understand this level of dedication, commitment and belief in something greater than our own lives?
I had also forgotten that for a few years, Texas was an independent republic (I already covered I’m not from Texas and my last U.S. history class was a long time ago…). The timeline and events leading up to Texas becoming independent are displayed on a timeline wall on the Alamo grounds and of course, the Alamo plays a big part in the Texas Independence story! When you put all the facts and context together along with the experience of being at the Alamo, you gain a deeper appreciation for Texas. I came across a saying somewhere that said “Don’t bother to ask if someone is from Texas. If they are, they will tell you, and if they aren’t then don’t embarrass yourself by asking.” In my experience, Texans are some of the nicest, most courteous people you will ever meet. Alongside that, they also have a definite sense of pride in their history and many still have an independent, “Don’t tread on me” attitude. I may have forgotten that Texas was an independent republic for several years, but true Texans have not! After visiting the Alamo, I feel like I have a greater understanding of Texas culture. This is one of the reasons I love to travel and feel like it is so important to tour museums and historical sights. Your perspective about an area and its people will likely change when you go back in time to understand the important events that happened there. Touring the Alamo is a great place to start if you plan to spend time visiting Texas. There are obviously many important historical sites in Texas, but the significance of the Alamo stands out as a “must-see” for a deeper understanding of the state.
Riverwalk note: There isn’t much to talk about the Riverwalk this time. Unfortunately, we picked the week they drained the canal to clean it. We decided to come back later to explore. If you’re interested in the Riverwalk, it may pay to check before you go if you intend to see it in January as this is the regular cleaning time!
Puppy Tail Note: This was our first major venture where we left our dogs in the camper for several hours by themselves. Our one-year-old puppy, Ichigo, decided to make the rules clear. We were going to “pay-to-play” if he wasn’t included! We came back to the remnants of his bed being strewn all over the camper!
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