The Alamo

The most revered historical sight and most venerated landmark in Texas is The Alamo (300 Alamo Plaza, 210/225-1391, www.thealamo.org, 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Sun.; open until 7 p.m. Fri.–Sat. June–Aug., free). Here legends and heroes of Texas history were born, died, and live on in our imaginations. Most visitors are surprised to see that the Alamo is small in size, but the history here is huge. On this hallowed ground in 1836, 188 brave Texans made their stand against 3,000 (give or take a few) of General Santa Anna’s finest. For 13 days a bloody battle slowly carried out and finally culminated in the final assault on the morning of March 6. Famous Texans like Col. William Travis, James Bowie, Juan Seguin, and of course, the Tennessean Davy Crockett (Congressman and an outdoorsman who was famous in his day for his exploits) made history by defying the dictator Santa Anna and staking their lives for freedom’s sake. They lost the battle but through their sacrifice a nation (the Republic of Texas) was born. There is some controversy regarding what became of Davy Crockett, but whatever you do, don’t let a revisionist historian tell you that Davy Crockett surrendered (the Pena “diaries” were a forgery... Davy died swinging his rifle, Ol’ Betsy—that’s my story and I’m sticking with it!). Their famous stand bought precious time for the fledgling republic’s first president, Sam Houston, who eventually was able to defeat Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto, near Houston. Texas is the only of the United States that was a sovereign nation before being annexed in 1845.

At the turn of the 20th century the Alamo was almost converted into a hotel but was saved by the Daughters of the Texas Republic, who to this day impeccably maintain the historic site. Towards the end of the 20th century people knew the Alamo as the place where Ozzy Osbourne relieved himself. He did his time in jail, so let’s move on from this moment in rock history and remember the Alamo for the sacrifice, the glory, the honor!