Day 15, Wed Oct. 26, 2016 The Alamo and on to Kerrville, TX

Today we did a close look at the Alamo, which played a critical role in the Texas Revolution.

In December 1835 Texians and Tejano volunteers battled Mexican troops quartered in the city of San Antonio forcing the Mexican general Martin Perfecto de Cos to surrender.  The victorious volunteers went on to occupy the Alamo, and strengthen its defenses.

In February 1836 the Mexican general Santa Anna nearly caught the volunteers by surprise but the Texians and Tejanos prepared to defend the Alamo... sending out couriers with pleas for help.

Eight days later, with nearly 200 defenders they were still outnumbered ten-to-one.

Believing the Alamo was key to the defense of Texas, Alamo commander William B. Travis believed they were willing to defend the post to the last man.  Included in the garrison were James Bowie (of knife fame) and David Crockett, famed frontiersman and former Tennessee congressman. 

Come the morning of March 6, 1836, the thirteenth day of the siege, cannon and small arms fire beat back several Mexican attacks.  General Santa Anna regrouped... charged and scaled the walls, rushing the compound.  A desperate struggle continued until the defenders were overwhelmed and by sunrise all were slain.  The battle of the Alamo was over.

People worldwide continue to remember the Alamo as a heroic struggle against overwhelming odds -- a place where men made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.  Thus, the Alamo remains hallowed grounds and the Shrine of Texas Liberty.

Over many years and various owners from the Army's use of it as a supply depot in the middle 1880's, to a merchant store for a few years, then in 1883 the State of Texas purchased the church as a shrine to the Alamo defenders.  The rest of the property was acquired by the state of Texas in 1905.  It is now operated mostly by volunteers, and supervised by the Texas General Land Office.

Open to the public with free admission one can rent an audio device which explains a walking tour, and there are regular guided tours throughout the day.

We found the ground and gardens to be quite nice and well maintained.  This photo of a tree or bush of what Sally called Angel Trumpets caught her eye reminding her of the years she tried to grow them at our home.

To commemorate our visit we violated some parking laws and grabbed a few photos of the Roadster in front of the Alamo church building.

We were impressed with San Antonio... seems to be a thriving downtown thanks to the three million tourists who visit each year.... lots of hotels and restaurants line the River walk, and the Alamo is close by too.  Oil and Gas support the economy and the convention center is said to host some 300 events a year, a statistic that must be envied by other convention center operators.

Completing our tourist visit of San Antonio we departed for Kerrville, TX, a short hop west to a less expensive hotel and a very nice catfish dinner.  Here we will prepare for the last two days of our journey,

Tomorrow is the back-breaker for us.... 535 miles, our longest day in the Morgan, from Kerrville to Las Cruces NM.  This means and early start.  More about that tomorrow night.