Texana Thursday: Remembering the Alamo in a New Way

The Alamo remains a popular tourist attraction (Andy Elck photo)

How does one remember the Alamo? Is it the paintings, the movies, or is it just driving through Alamo Plaza?

Today, you can drive your car north on Alamo Street, turning north from Commerce Street, which runs along what would have been the western edge of the plaza where the battle was fought in 1836. On the right, you’ll see the Alamo chapel, which is the iconic image people have in mind when they think of the Alamo. You’ll drive by the Cenotaph, created in the 1930s, just before you reach the East Houston Street intersection.

An effort is underway to renovate the Alamo Plaza that, if and when completed, will provide a new perspective on the battle and how it is remembered.

According to a Houston Chronicle article, the projects in the plan are targeted for completion in 2024. The $450 million plan includes up to $110 to renovate three state-owned buildings on the plaza to serve as a museum.

The project is being coordinated by a nonprofit group, Alamo Endowment, the City of San Antonio, and the Texas General Land Office. Project highlights include:

• Closing vehicle traffic on Alamo Street, restoring the integrity of the original mission compound and its historic boundaries, and establishing a reverent setting with appropriate materials.
• Recreating the southern enclosure of the Alamo compound, including the low barracks, defensive lunette, and the main gate entrance.
• Recreating the southwest corner of the Alamo and the entire length of the original west wall to Houston Street.
• Relocating the Cenotaph to the southern end of the plaza. It would sit outside the original mission boundary and directly in front of the Menger Hotel.
• Transforming the old post office/federal building at the north end of Alamo Plaza into a world class multimedia center and museum. This building would also house a new center for Texas history for educational and interpretive workshops, and provide digital linkage to international institutions.

Not to say that everyone is on board with the project. Raising money is an issue. Concerns have also been expressed about plaza access, given reconstruction of barracks and walls.

Despite the concerns, the project is both intriguing and receiving attention from San Antonians and people with an interest in the Alamo. For more information, visit the web site at alamoplazaproject.com.