Photo: Daniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Alamo guide: the church, the Long Barrack, the 1836 battle, free reservations, San Antonio Missions UNESCO site and the River Walk.
In the heart of San Antonio, the Alamo began in 1718 as Mission San Antonio de Valero, a Spanish mission. It became famous in early 1836, when a small group of Texan defenders, including Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie and William Travis, held out for 13 days against the army of Mexican General Santa Anna. All the defenders died, and “Remember the Alamo!” became the battle cry that won Texas independence weeks later.
Visitors can step inside the old church, now a shrine, see the Long Barrack, the oldest building on the site, and explore exhibits about the people on all sides of the battle. Entry to the church is free, with timed reservations recommended.
The Alamo is part of the San Antonio Missions World Heritage Site, together with four other missions you can reach by bike along the river. The famous River Walk, lined with restaurants and cafés, is just steps away.
Don’t miss
- 1The Alamo church
- 2The Long Barrack and its exhibits
- 3Mission San José, the “Queen of the Missions”
- 4An evening on the San Antonio River Walk
Insider tips
- Reserve a free timed ticket for the church on the official website.
- Rent a bike to ride the Mission Reach trail to the other missions.
- Try a river barge tour for a relaxed overview of downtown.
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