San Antonio: Remember the Alamo

~Here’s part two of pictures from my recent family trip to San Antonio, Texas.  Naturally, a top tourist attraction, and the heart of the city, is the Alamo.  Here it is in all of its beat-up glory:

 

^ The area that is now Texas was once part of Mexico, and many Americans immigrated there to build farms and ranches.  They brought their slaves with them, but unfortunately for them, Mexico outlawed slavery when it became independent from Spain in 1821.  The first solution to this problem was for the settlers to declare their slaves (~5,000 by 1836) indentured servants for life.  The second solution (and for numerous other reasons) was to declare independence from Mexico, launching the Texas War for Independence in 1836.

Just before full independence was declared, soldiers from the Provisional Government of Texas seized the Alamo, which at the time was a large compound surrounded by an outer wall that would today occupy a significant chunk of downtown San Antonio (the Alamo is smack in the middle of the city).  We all know the rest of the story, immortalized as it is in American mythology: the Texans, led by Davy Crockett, temporarily hold the Alamo against a much larger Mexican army, fighting to the last man against impossible odds.  “Remember the Alamo!”

Inside, the Alamo isn’t really a museum; there are only a few artifacts (such as Crockett’s rifle) and a diorama of what the Alamo compound originally looked like.  Just outside, however, is the Museum of the Alamo, which, from what I could tell, consisted of a gigantic gift shop.  I guess it’s not history unless you commercialize it.

Interesting fact: a Hyatt hotel in downtown San Antonio near the Alamo was originally planned to be much taller than it is today, but had to be scaled back after it was determined that the hotel would cast a shadow over the Alamo.

 

^ Of course, I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t seek out the nearest library wherever I go.  This is The Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library, build near the Alamo in 1950.

 

^ The library from the front.  Inside it holds an impressive collection of historical documents & maps relating to the history of Texas from its years as an independent nation, including one of the original signed copies of the Texas Declaration of Independence.  The library staff and volunteers were very pleasant and helpful.

 

^ Dad again, relaxing on a bench in the pleasant garden outside of the library.  He’s a cool guy, isn’t he?

 

^ Both of my adorable parents, in front of a statue of a giant rooster.  The area in the background is an artists’ workshop in the La Villeta Historic Arts Village.

 

^ A sign on the Fig Tree Restaurant in La Villeta.

 

^ A Predator taking a break from hunting to mingle among the lowly humans.  Actually, this is a wax sculpture displayed at the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Plaza Wax Museum near the Alamo.  I wonder how the Texan (and Mexican) soldiers during the battle would have reacted to this fellow, using his invisibility shield and plasma cannon, hunting among them?  Gotta sell that idea to Hollywood…

 

^ A river tour by night.  Clearly not as popular as the daytime tours.

Pictures from both birthday celebrations to follow!~