San Antonio May 2007

Located just across from the Alamo, this sculpture was commissioned by the Texas Centennial Commission and presented (1939) as a memorial to those men who lost their lives in the Battle of Alamo. The sculpture is referred to as the Alamo Cenotaph and contains all the names of those who died. A cenotaph is erected to honor a person or persons whose remains are elsewhere or unknown. The base of the monument is 12' x 40' and comprised of Texas pink granite, while the sculpture itself is of gray Georgian marble and rises 60 feet. The theme of the piece is "Spirit of Sacrifice" and depicts a figure rising from the grave. Beneath this figure, heroes of the Alamo and of Texas encircle the monument.

No trip to San Antonio is complete without a visit to The Alamo. So of course, that was one of the first things on my list.
A brief history: Originally named Mision San Antonio de Valero, the Alamo served as home to missionaries and their Indian converts for nearly seventy years. The mission plunged into history on March 6, 1836 (during the Texas Revolution) when 188 men (4 from Louisiana) died after being attacked by General Santa Anna's forces (after having a 13-day holdout). The defenders saw the Alamo as the key to the defense of Texas and they were ready to give their lives rather than surrender their position to General Santa Anna. Among the most famous defenders of The Alamo were Jim Bowie, William B. Travis and Davy Crockett. The Alamo is no longer an active mission and remains a symbol of a heroic struggle against overwhelming odds. The Alamo remains hallowed ground and the Shrine of Texas Liberty.

Memorial Sculpture Located just across from the Alamo, this sculpture was commissioned by the Texas Centennial Commission and presented (1939) as a memorial to those men who lost their lives in the Battle of Alamo. The sculpture is referred to as the Alamo Cenotaph and contains all the names of those who died. A cenotaph is erected to honor a person or persons whose remains are elsewhere or unknown. The base of the monument is 12' x 40' and comprised of Texas pink granite, while the sculpture itself is of gray Georgian marble and rises 60 feet. The theme of the piece is "Spirit of Sacrifice" and depicts a figure rising from the grave. Beneath this figure, heroes of the Alamo and of Texas encircle the monument.
The United States Post Office and Court House building in Alamo Plaza

The Crockett Hotel Named after Davy Crockett, this historic hotel located just behind the Alamo is listed in the National Register of Historic Structures. Crockett Hotel history

Pat O's.... guess I can't go far without finding a piece of home... This location opened in 2003.

St. Joseph's Downtown Church was built in 1868 by a community of German Catholics. In the mid-1900s, as the city grew and decided to cater more to tourists, most of the homes surrounding the church were destroyed to permit the extension of the River Walk, the Convention Center and several hotels. Joske's Department store (which is now a Dillard's) was constructed to flank St. Joseph's on three sides.