Alamo Plan

The story of the Alamo is world renowned and represents the core of Texas’ identity today. The ongoing effort to restore dignity and reverence to this sacred historic site through the comprehensive Alamo Plan is underway through the following three pillars:

1. Preserve the 300-year-old Church and Long Barrack
2. Recapture the original mission site and battlefield footprint
3. Create a world-class Visitor Center and Museum to tell the full history of the site

The restoration of the Church and Long Barrack is progressing as planned and we unveiled the 18-Pounder Losoya House Exhibit in the southwest corner of Alamo Plaza along with the Palisade Exhibit, allowing visitors to better understand the original footprint of the Alamo as it was both during the Mission era as well as the Battle of 1836. The new 24,000 square-foot Ralston Family Collections Center opened to the public on Friday, March 3, 2023, representing the first new construction on the Alamo grounds since the 1950s. It houses all of the Alamo artifacts, Alamo Collection, and Phil Collins Collection under one roof. It also features an exhibition space that will serve as museum until the proposed Visitor Center and Museum can be built. Plans for the opening of a state-of-the-art Alamo Visitor Center and Museum are on track for a 2026 grand opening.

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Memorialize those who lived, fought and died at the Alamo

Immediately following the reunification of the 1836 battlefield, steps were taken to remove 21st century distractions from the historic mission footprint to pay respect to all those who lived, fought, and died at the Alamo.

The continuous protests, street preachers, and political gatherings have been moved to a more respectful area off the former mission and battlefield, allowing visitors to better understand and remember the enormous sacrifice the Defenders made.

As the Alamo Plan continues to be implemented, additional measures will be taken to continue to restore reverence and dignity to one of the most historic sites in Texas history.

Additionally, security measures have been increased, protecting the Alamo Church, Long Barrack, and visitors from potential threats to the Texas icon through the installation of security bollards.

Rising damp from the limestone foundation has led to deterioration of the Alamo Church walls, causing pieces of the stone walls to flake off and crumble, accelerating the deterioration of the historic building.

The preservation and conservation of the sole remaining structures from the Battle of 1836 is our top priority. This is why we have brought in a world class team to preserve and conserve the two remaining buildings before they are lost completely.

Most excavation units have been backfilled and the moisture/temperature monitors are in place. These will enable preservationists to recommend remedies for the preservation of each area of the Church. Borescope inspections help us pinpoint voids and concerns with stones inside the walls. We are completing cleaning protocols for the Long Barrack walls. 

Allow visitors to learn about history where it happened, the way it happened

The Alamo sits at the heart of the City of San Antonio. As the once small town grew into a thriving city around the Alamo, portions of the historic 1836 Battlefield gave way to concrete and skyscrapers.

History tells us that there were once large stone walls that surrounded the Alamo battlefield, creating a frontier fortress. There were acequias to bring in water, a southern gate, lodgings for soldiers and a headquarters where Col. William Barret Travis wrote his famous letter calling for reinforcements. But today, the Alamo Church and Long Barrack are the only two buildings that remain from the battle in 1836. The rest has been lost to history, lost to the growth of San Antonio or simply lost all together.

Currently, when visitors approach Alamo Plaza many mistakenly assume that the Battle of 1836 was fought only inside the Alamo Church, due to the build up of the city around the historic structure. Since May 2021, the portion of Alamo Street that runs in front of the Alamo Church has been closed to vehicular traffic. Still open to pedestrian traffic, this helps to improve the visitor experience with cars no longer running through the historic battlefield footprint. The Alamo Plan also calls for the closure of Alamo Street from Commerce to Peacock Alley, and Houston from Losoya to 3rd St and Crockett from Alamo Street to Bonham serving to further delineate the battlefield and restore dignity and reverence to the sacred ground where the Alamo Defenders shed blood.

Plans for the opening of a state-of-the art Alamo Visitor Center and Museum are on track for a 2026 grand opening. We are working with the City of San Antonio to pursue new design concepts for exhibits on Alamo Plaza.

To provide the best visitor and learning experience possible, the Alamo consults with a team of Museum Consultants - renowned historians from all around the state of Texas and the United States. Alamo Trust, Inc. is also working with program manager, Gallagher & Associates and our Museum Planning Committee - historians, archaeologists, museum experts, and community stakeholders - to develop new exhibitions and programs that continue the Trust's work in telling the complete story of the Alamo.