91-1154: Mission San Antonio or San Antonio Mission may refer to: Alamo Mission in San Antonio ( Mission San Antonio de Valero ), site of the Battle of the Alamo Mission San Antonio de Padua , third of the 21 Franciscan missions in California Mission San Antonio de Pala , asistencia to Mission San Luis Rey in California Mission San Antonio de Senecu, defunct mission in present-day Senecu, Chihuahua San Antonio Missions , minor league baseball team San Antonio Missions National Historical Park , encompassing five missions in San Antonio, Texas San Antonio Missions (World Heritage Site) USNS Mission San Antonio (T-AO-119) , oil tanker named after Mission San Antonio de Padua Topics referred to by
182-493: A Gulf Coast hurricane destroyed the existing structures at Misión San Antonio de Valero, the mission was moved to its current location. At the time, the new location was just across the San Antonio River from the town of San Antonio de Béxar and just north of a group of huts known as La Villita. Over the next several decades, the mission complex expanded to cover 3 acres (1.2 ha). The first permanent building
273-552: A UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 5, 2015. In 1716, the Spanish government established several Roman Catholic missions in East Texas . The isolation of the missions—the nearest Spanish settlement, San Juan Bautista, Coahuila was over 400 miles (644 km) away—made it difficult to keep them adequately provisioned. To assist the missionaries, the new governor of Spanish Texas , Martín de Alarcón , wished to establish
364-423: A 30-day option on the property, wherein the group would pay $ 500 up front, with $ 4,500 due at the conclusion of the 30 days, with an additional $ 20,000 due on February 10, 1904, and the remainder paid in five annual installments of $ 10,000. Driscoll paid the initial $ 500 deposit out of her personal funds, and when fundraising efforts fell far short (only raising slightly over $ 1,000 of the needed $ 4,500), Driscoll paid
455-632: A large plaza and anchored by an ancient chapel". Unable to reach an agreement, Driscoll and several other women formed a competing chapter of the DRT named the Alamo Mission chapter. The two chapters argued over which had oversight of the Alamo. Unable to resolve the dispute, in February 1908 the executive committee of the DRT leased out the building. Angry with that decision, de Zavala announced that
546-642: A major donor to the Democratic Party to undermine him. At the time, Colquitt was considered running for U.S. Senate . She told the New York Herald Tribune that "the Daughters desire to have a Spanish garden on the site of the old mission, but the governor will not consider it. Therefore, we are going to fight him from the stump. ... We are also going to make speeches in the districts of State Senators who voted against and killed
637-518: A massacre at the Mission Santa Cruz de San Sabá . The convent and church were not fully enclosed within the 8-foot (2.4 m) high walls. The walls were built 2 feet (60 cm) thick and enclosed an area 480 feet (150 m) long (north-south) and 160 feet (49 m) wide (east-west). For additional protection, a turret housing three cannon was added near the main gate in 1762. By 1793, an additional one-pounder cannon had been placed on
728-462: A rampart near the convent. The population of Indians fluctuated from a high of 328 in 1756 to a low of 44 in 1777. The new commandant general of the interior provinces, Teodoro de Croix , thought the missions were a liability and began taking actions to decrease their influence. In 1778, he ruled that all unbranded cattle belonged to the government. Raiding Apache tribes had stolen most of the mission's horses, making it difficult to round up and brand
819-638: A result of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) 2005 recommendations, all military medical training has been consolidated at Fort Sam Houston. This consolidation concluded with the opening of the METC in 2011. The Navy moved its medical training from San Diego, California ; Great Lakes, Illinois ; and Portsmouth, Virginia . The Air Force moved its medical training from Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas . This increased
910-540: A syndicate wanted to buy the chapel and tear it down. She then barricaded herself in the Hugo and Schmeltzer building for three days. In response to de Zavala's actions, on February 12, Governor Thomas Mitchell Campbell ordered that the superintendent of public buildings and grounds take control of the property. Eventually, a judge named Driscoll's chapter the official custodians of the Alamo. The DRT later expelled de Zavala and her followers. Driscoll offered to donate
1001-659: A waystation between the settlements along the Rio Grande and the new missions in East Texas. In April 1718, Alarcón led an expedition to found a new community in Texas. The group erected a temporary mud, brush, and straw structure near the headwaters of the San Antonio River . This building would serve as a new mission, San Antonio de Valero, named after Saint Anthony of Padua and the viceroy of New Spain ,
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#17327726253281092-781: Is a museum in the Alamo Plaza Historic District and a part of the San Antonio Missions World Heritage Site . Originally named the Misión San Antonio de Valero , it was one of the early Spanish missions in Texas , built to convert American tribes to Christianity. The mission was secularized in 1793 and then abandoned. Ten years later, it became a fortress housing the Second Flying Company of San Carlos de Parras military unit, who likely gave
1183-411: Is at risk from environmental factors, however. The limestone used to construct the buildings was taken from the banks of the San Antonio River. It expands when confronted with moisture and then contracts when temperatures drop, shedding small pieces of limestone with each cycle. Measures have been taken to partially combat the problem. In 1988, a theater near the Alamo unveiled a new movie, Alamo ...
1274-692: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Alamo Mission in San Antonio The Alamo is a historic Spanish mission and fortress compound founded in the 18th century by Roman Catholic missionaries in what is now San Antonio, Texas , United States. It was the site of the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, a pivotal event of the Texas Revolution in which American folk heroes James Bowie and Davy Crockett were killed. Today it
1365-760: Is named for the first president of the Republic of Texas , Sam Houston . The installation's missions include serving as the command headquarters for the Fourth United States Army, United States Army North , United States Army South , the Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) headquarters, the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Center and School, the Fifth Recruiting Brigade, Navy Regional Recruiting,
1456-788: Is the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the Elks, the Muslims, or the Water Buffalo Club. Texas legislator Ron Wilson , who wished to transfer oversight of the Alamo to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Shortly after that, San Antonio representative Jerry Beauchamp proposed that the Alamo be transferred from the DRT to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department . Many minority legislators agreed with him. However,
1547-612: Is the commander of the 502d Air Base Wing . Construction at Fort Sam Houston began in the mid-1870s under the supervision of the military commander of the Department of Texas, Major General Edward Ord , a West Point -trained army engineer. Today, as one of the Army's oldest installations, and with more than 900 buildings in its historic districts, Fort Sam Houston boasts one of the largest collection of historic military post structures. The significant contributions of Fort Sam Houston to
1638-464: Is the senior command and responsible for all Army activities on Fort Sam Houston, but not for the post itself. Commanded by Maj. Gen. Scott M. Sherman, Army North's primary missions are land-based Homeland Defense, Defense Support of Civil Authorities and Theater Security Cooperation with the Bahamas, Canada and Mexico. Because Fort Sam Houston is part of Joint Base San Antonio, the installation commander
1729-497: Is unlikely that it was ever used for religious services. The chapel was intended to be highly decorated. Niches were carved on either side of the door to hold statues. The lower-level niches displayed Saint Francis and Saint Dominic , while the second-level niches contained statues of Saint Clare and Saint Margaret of Cortona . Carvings were also completed around the chapel's door. Up to 30 adobe or mud buildings were constructed to serve as workrooms, storerooms, and homes for
1820-713: The San Antonio Express-News reported that Fort Sam Houston received utility disconnection notices due to budget constraints. Fort Sam Houston is one of three military facilities in Texas (all in the San Antonio area) to have its own school district, the Fort Sam Houston Independent School District . The United States Postal Service operates the Fort Sam Houston Post Office at 1804 Stanley Road. Several notable figures have served at
1911-778: The Alamo to the Quadrangle, and the headquarters of the "Post at San Antonio" moved in on 22 December 1879. In 1880, fifteen officers' quarters were designed by architect Alfred Giles , west of the Quadrangle, and bordering a parade ground. This included the Commanding General's home, constructed in 1881, now known as the Pershing House , and first occupied by Brig. Gen. Christopher Augur . Between 1885 and 1893, 60 additional buildings were built on 43 acres (17 ha), Upper post or Infantry Post, purchased by
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#17327726253282002-529: The Apache war chief Geronimo and warriors captured with him, while the Federal government decided whether to treat them as prisoners of war (POWs) or common criminals. Legend has it that the deer in the Quadrangle were there because Geronimo refused to eat food he did not hunt. The deer pre-date Geronimo in the Quadrangle. It is unknown why the deer and peacocks were introduced into the confined courtyard of
2093-716: The Marquess of Valero . Alarcón, acting in his capacity as "General of the Provinces of the Kingdom of the New Philippines ," formally entrusted the mission on May 1 to Father Antonio de San Buenaventura y Olivares in a foundation document, still preserved. The mission was located near a community of Coahuiltecans and was initially populated by three to five Indian converts from Mission San Francisco Solano near San Juan Bautista. One mile (two km) north of
2184-471: The Mexican War of Independence , parts of the mission frequently served as a political prison. Between 1806 and 1812 it served as San Antonio's first hospital. Spanish records indicate that some renovations were made for this purpose, but no details were provided. The buildings were transferred from Spanish to Mexican control in 1821 after Mexico gained its independence. Soldiers continued to garrison
2275-613: The Republic of Texas legislature passed an act returning the sanctuary of the Alamo to the Roman Catholic Church. By 1845, when Texas was annexed to the United States, a colony of bats occupied the abandoned complex and weeds and grass covered many of the walls. As the Mexican–American War loomed in 1846, 2000 United States Army soldiers were sent to San Antonio under Brigadier General John Wool . By
2366-786: The Alamo Chapel. In 1931, Driscoll persuaded the state legislature to purchase two tracts of land between the chapel and Crockett street. In 1935, she convinced the city of San Antonio not to place a fire station in a building near the Alamo; the DRT later purchased that building and made it the DRT Library. During the Great Depression , money from the Works Progress Administration and the National Youth Administration
2457-523: The Alamo never was built by a military people for a fortress." Letter, dated January 18, 1836, from engineer Green B. Jameson to Sam Houston, commander of the Texian forces. With Cos's departure, there was no longer an organized garrison of Mexican troops in Texas, and many Texians believed the war was over. Colonel James C. Neill assumed command of the 100 soldiers who remained. Neill requested that an additional 200 men be sent to fortify
2548-622: The Alamo to the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). In response to pressure from Hispanic groups, state representative Orlando Garcia of San Antonio began legislative hearings into DRT finances. The DRT agreed to make their financial records more open, and the hearings were canceled. [The Alamo is] one of the most important historical structures in the state. It belongs to everyone, or at least it should. ... [It] shouldn't be managed by any private group–I don't care if it
2639-406: The Alamo walls and burned some of the buildings. For the next five years, the Alamo was periodically used to garrison soldiers, both Texian and Mexican, but was ultimately abandoned. In 1849, several years after Texas was annexed to the United States, the U.S. Army began renting the facility for use as a quartermaster's depot, before again abandoning the mission in 1876 after nearby Fort Sam Houston
2730-401: The Alamo's walls, dug musket rounds out of the holds, and knocked off stone carvings". Pieces of the debris were sold to tourists, and in 1840 the San Antonio town council passed a resolution allowing local citizens to take stone from the Alamo at a cost of $ 5 per wagonload. By the late 1840s, even the four statues located on the front wall of the chapel had been removed. On January 13, 1841,
2821-564: The Alamo, and expressed fear that his garrison could be starved out of the Alamo after a four-day siege. However, the Texian government was in turmoil and unable to provide much assistance. Determined to make the best of the situation, Neill and engineer Green B. Jameson began working to fortify the Alamo. Jameson installed the cannons that Cos had left along the walls. Heeding Neill's warnings, General Sam Houston ordered Colonel James Bowie to take 35–50 men to Béxar to help Neill move all of
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2912-475: The Alamo, citing that they had done nothing to restore the property since gaining control. He also announced an intent to rebuild the convent. Shortly thereafter, the legislature paid to demolish the building that had been added by Hugo and Schmeltzer and authorized $ 5,000 to restore the rest of the complex. The restorations were begun, but not finished, as the appropriations fell short of the costs. Driscoll, upset over Colquitt's decisions, used her influence as
3003-462: The Alamo. On February 23, the Mexican Army, under the command of President-General Antonio López de Santa Anna , arrived in San Antonio de Béxar intent on recapturing the city. For the next thirteen days, the Mexican Army laid siege to the Alamo , during which work continued on its interior. After Mexican soldiers tried to block the irrigation ditch leading into the fort, Jameson supervised
3094-686: The Alamo. Twiggs elected to surrender and all supplies were turned over to the Texans. Following the Confederacy's defeat, the United States Army again maintained control over the Alamo. Shortly after the war ended, however, the Catholic Church requested that the army vacate the premises so that the Alamo could become a place of worship for local German Catholics. The army refused, and the church made no further attempts at retaking
3185-464: The Army" because so many soldiers, including Dwight D. Eisenhower, met their future spouses there. After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks , in 2003 the Army decided to close New Braunfels Avenue to through traffic. Until this closure, New Braunfels Avenue had been a major north–south thoroughfare used by soldiers and San Antonio citizens alike; this had the result of closing many businesses near
3276-645: The Army. The command and other key positions will rotate between the Army and Air Force. Staffing consist of members of both services, as well as a large number of civilians. As of 2011, Fort Sam Houston is the largest and most important military medical training facility in the world. Military medical training is provided by numerous elements, including Military Education and Training Campus (METC), AMEDD Center and School, Brooke Army Medical Center, US Army Institute of Surgical Research, The Center for Battlefield Health and Trauma, Defense Medical Readiness Training Institute, as well as many smaller organizations. Known as
3367-414: The Catholic Church was the rightful owner of the chapel. While litigation was ongoing, the army rented the chapel from the Catholic Church for $ 150 per month. Under the army's oversight, the Alamo was greatly repaired. Soldiers cleared the grounds and rebuilt the old convent and the mission walls, primarily from the original stone which was strewn along the ground. During the renovations, a new wooden roof
3458-519: The DRT custodian of the Alamo. The bill passed, and Driscoll received all of her money back. Driscoll and de Zavala argued over how best to preserve the building. De Zavala wished to restore the exterior of the buildings to a state similar to its 1836 appearance, focusing on the convent (then called the long barracks), while Driscoll wanted to tear down the long barracks and create a monument similar to those she had seen in Europe: "a city center opened by
3549-405: The Department of Defense. Construction associated with this transition increased the square footage of the hospital by 50%, including a much larger, variable capacity emergency department, additional surgical suites and recovery facilities, as well as teaching facilities and bed space. Despite the installation transitioning to Air Force control, the command and control of the facility will remain with
3640-476: The Indian residents. As the nearby presidio was perpetually understaffed, the mission was built to withstand attacks by Apache and Comanche raiders. In 1745, 100 mission Indians successfully drove off a band of 300 Apaches which had surrounded the presidio. Their actions saved the presidio, the mission, and likely the town from destruction. Walls were erected around the Indian homes in 1758, likely in response to
3731-637: The Long Barracks was still standing, and the building that had contained the south wall gate and several rooms were mostly intact. The Texians briefly used the Alamo as a fortress in December 1836 and again in January 1839. The Mexican army regained control in March 1841 and September 1842 as they briefly took San Antonio de Bexar. According to historians Roberts and Olson, "both groups carved names in
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3822-532: The Mexican army's defeat at the Battle of San Jacinto and the capture of Santa Anna, the Mexican army agreed to leave Texas, effectively ending the Texas Revolution. As Andrade and his garrison joined the retreat on May 24, they spiked the cannons , tore down many of the Alamo walls, and set fires throughout the complex. Only a few buildings survived their efforts; the chapel was left in ruins, most of
3913-409: The Mexican soldiers involved in the final assault, which historian Terry Todish stated was "a tremendous casualty rate by any standards". Following the battle of the Alamo, one thousand Mexican soldiers, under General Juan Andrade, remained at the mission. For the next two months, they repaired and fortified the complex, however, no records remain of what improvements they made to the structure. After
4004-479: The Price of Freedom . The 40-minute-long film would be screened several times each day. The movie attracted many protests from Mexican-American activists, who decried the anti-Mexican comments and complained that it ignored Tejano contributions to the battle. The movie was re-edited in response to the complaints, but the controversy grew to the point that many activists began pressuring the legislature to move control of
4095-515: The Quadrangle was a combination 87 feet (27 m) tall watchtower and 6,400 US gal (24,000 L) water tank designed by General Montgomery C. Meigs , based on one he had seen in Europe, and which he called "his work of art". On 19 February 1877, the new train station on Austin Street opened, connecting San Antonio to Galveston . The quartermasters soon moved their depot supplies from
4186-515: The Quadrangle. The Quadrangle is now an office complex housing the commanding general and staff of U.S. Army North as well as the Fort Sam Houston Museum. The base has maintained the historical integrity of the post's different sections, which represent different eras of construction, and reflect various Army concepts in planning and design. Careful preservation of these areas allows the post to live with its history, surrounded by
4277-410: The Republic of Texas (DRT) organized in 1892 with one of their main goals being to preserve the Alamo. Among its early members was Adina Emilia De Zavala , granddaughter of the Republic of Texas Vice-president Lorenzo de Zavala . Shortly before the turn of the 20th century, Adina de Zavala convinced Gustav Schmeltzer, owner of the convent, to give the DRT first option in purchasing the building if it
4368-567: The San Antonio Military Entrance and Processing Station, and the Medical Education and Training Campus (METC). On 1 October 2010, Fort Sam Houston joined Lackland Air Force Base and Randolph Air Force Base to create Joint Base San Antonio , under Air Force administration. U. S. Department of Defense (DoD) Elements U. S. Army Elements U. S. Air Force Elements United States Army North
4459-547: The San Antonio mayor, Henry Cisneros , advocated that control remain with the DRT, and the legislature shelved the bill. Several years later, Carlos Guerra, a reporter for the San Antonio Express-News , began writing columns attacking the DRT for its handling of the Alamo. Guerra claimed that the DRT had kept the temperature too low within the chapel, a situation which caused the formation of water vapor , which when mixed with automobile exhaust fumes damaged
4550-468: The Spanish colonies." In the 19th century, the mission complex became known as "the Alamo". The name may have been derived from a grove of nearby cottonwood trees, known in Spanish as álamo . Alternatively, in 1803, the abandoned compound was occupied by the Second Flying Company of San Carlos de Parras , from Álamo de Parras in Coahuila . Locals often called them simply the "Alamo Company". During
4641-479: The Texians, including Dickinson, Gregorio Esparza , and Bonham, grabbed rifles and fired before being bayoneted to death. Texian Robert Evans was master of ordnance and had been tasked with keeping the gunpowder from falling into Mexican hands. Wounded, he crawled towards the powder magazine but was killed by a musket ball with his torch only inches from the powder. If he had succeeded, the blast would have destroyed
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#17327726253284732-414: The Texians. The last of the Texians to die were the eleven men manning the two 12 lb (5.4 kg) cannon in the chapel. The entrance to the church had been barricaded with sandbags, which the Texians were able to fire over. A shot from the 18 lb (8.2 kg) cannon destroyed the barricades, and Mexican soldiers entered the building after firing an initial musket volley. With no time to reload,
4823-417: The United States were recognized in 1975 when the post was designated as a National Historic Landmark . The Sundry Civil Service Bill of 3 March 1873 included a $ 100,000 allotment for a new army post in San Antonio, on 93 acres of land deeded by the city on Government Hill. Edward Braden Construction Co. won the contract to build the post on 7 June 1876, for $ 83,900 ($ 2.4 million in 2023). Included on
4914-572: The amendment" to return control of the mission to the DRT. Subsequently, while Colquitt was out of state on a business trip, Lieutenant Governor William Harding Mayes allowed the removal of the upper-story walls of the long barracks from the convent, leaving only the one-story walls of the west and south portions of the building. This conflict became known as the Second Battle of the Alamo. Upon their deaths in 1945 and 1955, Driscoll and de Zavala, respectively, had their bodies laid in state in
5005-427: The army east of the Quadrangle, including the 1893 Band Barracks overlooking another parade ground. The hospital, now known as Sam Houston House, was built in 1886. The post was formally named Fort Sam Houston on 11 September 1890. The Fort Sam Houston Quadrangle, built by George Henry Griebel , is the oldest structure at Fort Sam Houston. The quadrangle was originally a supply depot. During that time, it housed
5096-474: The artillery and destroy the fortress. There were not enough oxen to move the artillery to a safer place, and most of the men believed the complex was of strategic importance to protecting the settlements to the east. On January 26, the Texian soldiers passed a resolution in favor of holding the Alamo. On February 11, Neill went on furlough to pursue additional reinforcements and supplies for the garrison. William Travis and James Bowie agreed to share command of
5187-469: The average student load and required additional support staff. The expansion in training has required construction approaching one billion dollars, a windfall of federal investment in Texas. Throughout its existence, a close and harmonious relationship has prevailed between Fort Sam Houston and the City of San Antonio. The two have grown and matured together. The city often has been called the "mother-in-law of
5278-538: The balance of the $ 4,500 from her own pocket. At the urging of both Driscoll and de Zavala, the Texas Legislature approved $ 5,000 for the committee to use as part of the next payment. The appropriation was vetoed by Governor S. W. T. Lanham , who said it was "not a justifiable expenditure of the taxpayers' money". DRT members set up a collection booth outside the Alamo and held several fundraising activities, collecting $ 5,662.23. Driscoll agreed to make up
5369-587: The brain trust for the AMEDD, the Army Medical Department Center and School annually trains more than 25,000 students attending 170 officer, NCO and enlisted courses in 14 medical specialties. The command maintains several academic affiliations for bachelor's and master's degree programs with major universities such as Baylor University , University of Texas Health Science Centers at Houston and San Antonio, and University of Nebraska . As
5460-408: The buildings. Visitors were often more impressed. In 1828, French naturalist Jean Louis Berlandier visited the area. He mentioned the Alamo complex: "An enormous battlement and some barracks are found there, as well as the ruins of a church which could pass for one of the loveliest monuments of the area, even if its architecture is overloaded with ornamentation like all the ecclesiastical buildings of
5551-421: The cattle. As a result, when the ruling took effect, the mission lost a great deal of its wealth and was unable to support a larger population of converts. By 1793, only 12 Indians remained. By this point, few of the hunting and gathering tribes in Texas had not been Christianized . In 1793, Misión San Antonio de Valero was secularized. Shortly after, the mission was abandoned. Most locals were uninterested in
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#17327726253285642-480: The church. Santa Anna ordered that the Texian bodies be stacked and burned. All, or almost all, of the Texian defenders were killed in the battle, although some historians believe that at least one Texian, Henry Warnell, successfully escaped. Warnell died several months later of wounds incurred either during the final battle or during his escape. Most Alamo historians agree that 400–600 Mexicans were killed or wounded. This would represent about one-third of
5733-421: The complex until December 1835, when General Martín Perfecto de Cos surrendered to Texian forces following a two-month siege of San Antonio de Béxar during the Texas Revolution . In the few months that Cos supervised the troops garrisoned in San Antonio, he had ordered many improvements to the Alamo. Cos's men likely demolished the four stone arches that were to support a future chapel dome. The debris from these
5824-488: The complex. They abandoned the Alamo in 1876 when Fort Sam Houston was established in San Antonio. About that time, the Church sold the convent to Honore Grenet, who added a new two-story wood building to the complex. Grenet used the convent and the new building for a wholesale grocery business. After Grenet's death in 1882, his business was purchased by the mercantile firm, Hugo & Schmeltzer, which continued to operate
5915-425: The difference, as well as agreeing to pay the final $ 50,000. After hearing of her generosity, various newspapers in Texas dubbed her the "Savior of the Alamo". Many groups began to petition the legislature to reimburse Driscoll. In January 1905, de Zavala drafted a bill that was sponsored by representative Samuel Ealy Johnson Jr. (father of future US President Lyndon Baines Johnson ), to reimburse Driscoll and name
6006-429: The digging of a well at the south end of the plaza. Although the men hit the water, they weakened an earth and timber parapet near the barracks, collapsing it and leaving no way to fire safely over that wall. The siege ended in a fierce battle on March 6. As the Mexican Army overran the walls, most of the Texians fell back to the long barracks (convent) and the chapel. During the siege, Texians had carved holes in many of
6097-433: The end of World War II, the Army decided to make Fort Sam Houston its principal medical training facility. In conjunction with this decision came the determination to develop Brooke General Hospital into one of the Army's premier medical centers. This combined the capabilities of Wilford Hall Medical Center located at nearby Lackland Air Force Base to create the largest medical treatment facility and teaching hospital in
6188-399: The end of the year, they had appropriated part of the Alamo complex for the Quartermaster's Department. Within eighteen months, the convent building had been restored to serve as offices and storerooms. The chapel remained vacant, however, as the army, the Roman Catholic Church, and the city of San Antonio bickered over its ownership. An 1855 decision by the Texas Supreme Court reaffirmed that
6279-449: The fort, including Arthur MacArthur Jr. , Leonard Wood , Benjamin Foulois , Frederick Funston , and John J. Pershing. Maj. Gen. John Wilson Ruckman , Commander of the Southern Department, was based at Fort Sam Houston just after the Houston Riot of 1917 . Brig. Gen. Billy Mitchell was posted there after being demoted to colonel for disobeying orders. Dwight D. Eisenhower was posted to Fort Sam Houston twice during his career, as
6370-447: The limestone walls. These allegations prompted the legislature in 1993 to once more attempt to transfer control of the Alamo to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. At the same time, State Senator Gregory Luna filed a competing bill to transfer oversight of the Alamo to the Texas Historical Commission . Fort Sam Houston Fort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio , Texas . Known colloquially as "Fort Sam", it
6461-460: The mission the name Alamo ("poplar trees"). During the Texas Revolution, Mexican General Martín Perfecto de Cos surrendered the fort to the Texian Army in December 1835, following the Siege of Béxar . A relatively small number of Texian soldiers then occupied the compound for several months. The defenders were wiped out at the Battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836. As the Mexican Army retreated from Texas several months later, they tore down many of
6552-427: The mission's farmland produced up to 2,000 bushels of corn and 100 bushels of beans; cotton was also grown. The first stones were laid for a more permanent church building in 1744, however, the church, its tower, and the sacristy collapsed in the late 1750s. Reconstruction began in 1758, with the new chapel located at the south end of the inner courtyard. Constructed of 4-foot (1.2 m) thick limestone blocks, it
6643-507: The mission, Alarcón built a fort, the Presidio San Antonio de Béxar . Close by, he founded the first civilian community in Texas, San Antonio de Béxar , which later developed into the present-day city of San Antonio, Texas. Within a year, the mission moved to the western bank of the river, where it was less likely to flood. Over the next several years, a chain of missions was established nearby. In 1724, after remnants of
6734-400: The money required to tear down the convent, build a stone wall around the Alamo complex, and convert the interior into a park. The legislature postponed a decision until after the 1910 elections after which Texas had a new governor, Oscar Branch Colquitt . Both de Zavala and Driscoll spoke, and Colquitt toured the property; three months later, Colquitt removed the DRT as official custodians of
6825-488: The north and south entrances from New Braunfels Avenue. More than 27,000 military and civilian personnel work at the post, with an annual payroll and operating budget of $ 1.9 billion. Local purchases made by installation activities total almost $ 105 million annually. Funding for construction projects on post average $ 30 million annually. Fort Sam Houston has also initiated public–private partnerships to renovate and adaptively reuse significant historic buildings. In June 2006,
6916-835: The other three sides of the building. The complex eventually contained a supply depot, offices, storage facilities, a blacksmith shop, and stables. During the American Civil War , Texas joined the Confederacy , and the Alamo complex was taken over by the Confederate Army . In February 1861, the Texan Militia, under direction from the Texas Secession Convention and led by Ben McCullough and Sam Maverick, confronted General Twiggs, commander of all US Forces in Texas and headquartered at
7007-435: The same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Mission San Antonio . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mission_San_Antonio&oldid=1137280417 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
7098-496: The spot where flames ascended ... over the funeral pyre of heroes". In 1883, the Catholic Church sold the chapel to the State of Texas for $ 20,000. The state hired Tom Rife to manage the building. He gave tours but did not make any efforts to restore the chapel, to the annoyance of many. In the past decades, soldiers and members of the local Masonic lodge , which had used the building for meetings, had inscribed various graffiti on
7189-639: The state legislature in 1905 to purchase the remaining buildings and to name the DRT as the permanent custodian of the site. Over the next century, periodic attempts were made to transfer control of the Alamo from the DRT. In early 2015, Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush officially moved control of the Alamo to the Texas General Land Office . The Alamo and the four missions in the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park were designated
7280-564: The store. San Antonio's first rail service began in 1877, and the city's tourism industry began to grow. The city heavily advertised the Alamo, using photographs and drawings that showed only the chapel, not the surrounding city. Many of the visitors were disappointed with their visit; in 1877 tourist Harrier P. Spofford wrote that the chapel was "a reproach to all San Antonio. Its wall is overthrown and removed, its dormitories are piled with military stores, its battle-scarred front has been revamped and repainted and market carts roll to and fro on
7371-476: The traditions established when the first soldier arrived here in 1845. The Gift Chapel was dedicated by President William Taft on 17–18 October 1909. During World War II , space at the fort was made available for up to 1,000 German POWs . This took place on 15 September 1942 while POW camps could be built. Fort Sam Houston is known as the "Home of Army Medicine" and "Home of the Combat Medic". At
7462-549: The walls and statues. In May 1887 a devout Catholic who was incensed that Masonic emblems had been inscribed on a statue of Saint Teresa was arrested after breaking into the building and smashing statues with a sledgehammer. The 50th anniversary of the fall of the Alamo received little attention. In an editorial after the fact, the San Antonio Express called for the formation of a new society that would help recognize important historical events. The Daughters of
7553-437: The walls of these rooms so that they would be able to fire. Each room had only one door which led into the courtyard and which had been "buttressed by semicircular parapets of dirt secured with cowhides". Some of the rooms even had trenches dug into the floor to provide some cover for the defenders. Mexican soldiers used the abandoned Texian cannon to blow off the doors of the rooms, allowing Mexican soldiers to enter and defeat
7644-417: Was added to the chapel and the campanulate, or bell-shaped facade, was added to the front wall of the chapel. At the time, reports suggested that the soldiers found several skeletons while clearing the rubble from the chapel floor. The new chapel roof was destroyed in a fire in 1861. The army also cut additional windows into the chapel, adding two on the upper level of the facade as well as additional windows on
7735-547: Was designated in 1977. As San Antonio prepared to host the Hemisfair in 1968, the long barracks were roofed and turned into a museum. Few structural changes have taken place since then. According to Herbert Malloy Mason's Spanish Missions of Texas , the Alamo is one of "the finest examples of Spanish ecclesiastical building on the North American continent". The mission, along with others located in San Antonio,
7826-412: Was established. The Alamo chapel was sold to the state of Texas, which conducted occasional tours but made no effort to restore it. The remaining buildings were sold to a mercantile company that operated them as a wholesale grocery store. The Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT) formed in 1891 and began trying to preserve the Alamo. Adina Emilia De Zavala and Clara Driscoll successfully convinced
7917-510: Was ever sold. In 1903, when Schmeltzer wanted to sell the building to a developer, he offered the building first to the DRT for $ 75,000, which they did not have. During De Zavala's attempts to raise the money, she met Clara Driscoll , an heiress who was very interested in Texas history , especially the Alamo. Shortly thereafter, Driscoll joined the DRT and was appointed chair of the San Antonio chapter's fund-raising committee. The DRT negotiated
8008-406: Was intended to be three stories high and topped by a dome, with bell towers on either side. Its shape was a traditional cross, with a long nave and short transepts . Although the first two levels were completed, the bell towers and third story were never begun. While four stone arches were erected to support the planned dome, the dome itself was never built. As the church was never completed, it
8099-462: Was likely the two-story, L-shaped stone residence for the priests. The building served as parts of the west and south edges of an inner courtyard. A series of adobe barracks buildings were constructed to house the mission Indians and a textile workshop was erected. By 1744, over 300 Indian converts resided at San Antonio de Valero. The mission was largely self-sufficient, relying on its 2,000 head of cattle and 1,300 sheep for food and clothing. Each year,
8190-415: Was used to build a ramp to the apse of the chapel building. There, the Mexican soldiers placed three cannon, which could fire over the walls of the roofless building. To close a gap between the church and the barracks (formerly the convent building) and the south wall, the soldiers built a palisade . When Cos retreated, he left behind 19 cannons, including a 16-pounder. "You can plainly see that
8281-676: Was used to construct a wall around the Alamo and a museum, and to raze several non-historic buildings on the Alamo property. The Alamo was designated a National Historic Landmark on December 19, 1960, and was documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1961. It was an inaugural listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966 and is a contributing property to the Alamo Plaza Historic District, which
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