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The mission chapel is maintained as the Shrine of Texas Liberty in honor of the heroes who fought here against overwhelming odds for 13 days in 1836. The large door at the rear once led to the residence of defender James Bowie’s in-laws.

Detail, Chapel façade

The small sacristy rooms were the only quarters in the chapel with a ceiling in 1836, and were used to shelter women and children during the siege. Today, they display battle artifacts, such as William Barret Travis’s ring and a buckskin vest belonging to Davy Crockett (see December 1835 – February 22, 1836 ).

The small theater is located in the Long Barrack. A superb short film presents the historic events leading up to the Battle of the Alamo, and the 13-day siege that ended shortly after dawn on March 6, 1836.

Some of the bloodiest fighting of the 1836 battle occurred in this long, narrow building, the mission convento where priests once lived. The Long Barrack and the mission church are the only two original buildings that remain. Exhibits at this museum tell the story of the Alamo.

This exhibit presents 300 years of history, starting with the Native American inhabitants, and the start of the mission and its secularization. The military history began when it was leased to a Spanish cavalry unit who nicknamed it the Alamo.

Much of the battle took place within the mission grounds, in the area in front of the Chapel and the Long Barrack that today is Alamo Plaza. A plaque marks the location of the Low Barrack, which was the original entrance.

The 60 ft 18 m high granite and marble monument is a memorial to the men who died in 1836. Names and images of the heroic defenders are incorporated into The Spirit of Sacrifice created by Pompeo Coppinni.

This large museum and gift shop was built in 1939 and displays historical portraits and documents. The highlight here is the large diorama of the final assault created by Thomas Feely.

The remains of the original acequia, or hand-dug ditch , which brought water from the river into the compound, can still be seen behind the Chapel and the Gift Museum. This reliable source of water bolstered the confidence of the defenders as they waited for the battle.

Built in 1950, this fine research library was developed by the DRT, who saved the Alamo from being turned into a hotel. The non-circulating collections explore the history of Texas. The important documents here include Santa Anna’s will and a copy of the Texas Declaration of Independence.