An update on the Alamo Master Plan
For nearly three centuries the Alamo has, thankfully, stood the test of time. As the city of San Antonio has grown around it, the Alamo Church has remained the Shrine of Texas Liberty, welcoming 1.5 million visitors through its doors each year.
Today though, decades of harsh summer heat, seasonal rainstorms, and the natural effects of heavy foot traffic and a location in the city’s center have taken their toll.
Through studies conducted by the Alamo Master Plan team to better understand the health of the Alamo’s historic structures, we have learned that the patient is in critical condition. One expert stated he has never before seen a building deteriorating before his eyes. Therefore, preservation planning and work will begin immediately.
“The Alamo Master Plan’s first and primary goal is to ensure long-term, extensive preservation and conservation plans for the Alamo Church and Long Barrack,” said Texas General Land Office Commissioner George P. Bush. “These structures are Texas’ most iconic landmarks and artifacts, and we must act now to ensure the Alamo receives the care and honor it deserves so that future generations may visit and remember.”
Another key element of the Master Plan is to define the footprint of the historic Alamo battlefield. Improving the area currently known as Alamo Plaza will bring integrity and respect back to the battlefield, where defenders lost their lives on March 6, 1836.
Today, the 1836 battlefield is covered with asphalt streets and sidewalks. Cars and buses drive across the soil where defenders took their last stand. Due to its current state, most visitors do not realize they are standing on sacred ground.
The Master Plan seeks to close the street that currently runs through the 1836 battlefield and activate the area with educational programs, living history, ceremonies, and activities that honor the site.
The plan also proposes a world class museum and visitor center, featuring the very best in exhibit design, visitor experience, and educational programming. These amenities will be developed with future visitors in mind, ensuring that the Alamo’s story will be passed down to new generations of Texans and history lovers.
We encourage every person who loves the Alamo to remain engaged in the Master Plan process by staying up-to-date via Alamo social media channels, and here on the Alamo newsletter.
Time is short for the Alamo. Preservation work has been put off for far too long. Now is the time for us to act to ensure that the Shrine of Texas Liberty remains standing for generations to come.
