Ernesto Rodriguez III is the Senior Curator, Historian, and Alamo Lecturer at the Alamo. He is a San Antonio native and has devoted over 20 years to historical research at this incredible site. His deep knowledge and love for the Alamo’s story and Texas history was recognized in 2019 when he was promoted from Associate Curator to Curator. As Curator, Ernesto is dedicated to the scholarly research that underpins both interpretive planning for the Alamo museum and a greater understanding of the Alamo’s archive and artifact collections. He has both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in History from Saint Mary’s University in San Antonio.
Biography
Experience
Associate Curator, Alamo Trust (2017-2019): Ernesto led historical and collections research for programs and special exhibits including Fortress Alamo: The Key to Texas History. He also led translation of Spanish language documents and tours for visiting dignitaries.
Associate Curator, Alamo Complex Management (2015-2017): Ernesto conducted historical and collections research for the successful temporary exhibit, Bowie: Man, Knife, Legend. He also carried out Spanish colonial archives research in Mexico City and content updates for the battlefield history tour.
Assistant Curator, Daughters of the Republic of Texas (1999-2015): Ernesto developed new learning programs at the Alamo including the Alamo Young Couriers Program, Living History, and 175th Anniversary events. He assisted in the research and development of the Long Barrack exhibit, The Alamo: A Story Bigger than Texas and was a contributor to a re-designed the Alamo website. He worked with Phil Collins on the transfer and accession of his Texana Collection to the Alamo.
Graduate Student Assistant, Preserving U.S. Latino Heritage Project, St. Mary’s University Department of History (1996-1998): Ernesto undertook archive newspaper research and created an index for digitized records.
Public Services Assistant, Blume Library, St. Mary’s University Academic Library (1993-1996)
Selected Publications and Presentations
The Battle of Gonzales, a paper and presentation at the 112th Texas State Historical Association Meeting, Corpus Christi, 2008.
Go and Get it! The Battle of Gonzales, article for Destinations San Antonio, October 2012 Issue.
Professional Qualifications
Master of Arts, History with a focus on Spanish Colonial Texas, St. Mary’s University at San Antonio, 2004
Bachelor of Arts, History, St. Mary’s University at San Antonio, 1996
Certified Member of the Professional Tour Guide Association of San Antonio
Certified Tourism Ambassador
Certified World Heritage Tourism Ambassador
Professional Memberships
Texas State Historical Association
Texas Association of Museums
Served on the Education Committee for the Professional Tour Guide Association 2006, 2010
Served on the San Antonio Founders Day Alliance as Coordinator of Children’s Programs
