Step Back in Time

Visitors at the Alamo find out about 1830s firearms from a living historian.

Make your way to the Alamo's living history encampment, behind the Church, to meet the Alamo's history guides - known as living historians. Enjoy hands-on demonstrations about daily life at the time of the Texas Revolution. Discover what people wore, how they looked after their health, and what essential skills they had to master, such as fire-starting, leather working, and how to take care of their firearms.

What to Expect at the Encampment

Living Historian showing a cannon to a young girl

Demonstrations vary daily but on most days you'll get a taste of life in the 1830s. 

Artillery talks and demonstrations happen almost every day. You'll learn about the sizes of cannon at the Alamo, the different types of shot, and what it took to be part of a cannon crew.

1830s medicine is also a popular topic. While there are many similarities to modern-day medicine, you will be astounded at some of the medical practices and instruments common in the early 1800s.

Living historian demonstrating weapons in the encampment
Two standing and one seated living historian next to a tent
Living historian welding in encampment
Two living historians standing by a wood table under a tented canopy

Musket Firing Demonstrations

Musket firing demonstrations, sponsored by Virgil Rosser, First Vice President - Investment Officer, Wells Fargo Advisors, take place on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in the Alamo Gardens. Come and be dazzled by the sights, sounds, and smells of firing flintlock firearms - the weapons used during the 1836 Battle of the Alamo. This 15-minute presentation covers the history and use of flintlock firearms, a quick tutorial on how to fire, and live firings done by the Alamo Living History staff.

Two living historians firing muskets on Alamo Street in front of a crowd