Traveling Time with Dan: Remembering the Alamo and the Fight for Freedom
Hello everybody, this is Dan Blanchard with the Traveling Time with Dan Show, where we mix travel with history and leadership. Today, we’re exploring the beautiful city of San Antonio, Texas, and the historic Alamo.
You can see the gorgeous surroundings here in San Antonio, right where the Alamo stands, complete with its fortifications, walls, and cannons. This incredible site is Texas’s first and only UNESCO World Heritage site and is the most visited place in the state today.
From Mission to Makeshift Fort
The history of the Alamo goes way back. Long ago, this area was home to natives and Mexicans, and was part of Mexico, not the United States.
Initially, the Spanish used the Alamo as a mission where friars sought to convert everyone to be “good Christians”. Eventually, however, the Spanish (or the Mexicans who took it back) repurposed the structure, turning it into a little makeshift fort. Its purpose at that time was to repel attacks from local indigenous tribes.
The Seeds of Revolution
The conflict that made the Alamo famous arose later, during the time of President Antonio López de Santa Anna. A large migration of Americans, known as Texans, had moved into this area of Mexico. These settlers did not have loyalties or ties to Santa Anna.
Santa Anna began to oppress them, “putting his thumb on them,” telling them what to do, and bossing them around. The Texans didn’t like this and decided to fight back, igniting the Texas Revolution.
The Texans began by taking the fort from the Mexicans. When Santa Anna discovered this, he became angry and ordered a large military unit to return and retake the fort.
The Unwinnable Siege
When the Texans learned of Santa Anna’s approaching army, some men left, leaving only a “skeleton crew”. Jim Bowie, famous for the Bowie knife, sent a request to Sam Houston, asking for more troops.
However, Sam Houston declined, stating he didn’t have the men to spare, and instead ordered Bowie to burn the fort down, pull the cannons out, and retreat.
When Bowie arrived at the Alamo with about 30 men, the total Texan defense force numbered around 200. They soon discovered they lacked the horses needed to haul the cannons out as Houston had requested. Knowing the overwhelming odds—Santa Anna had marched at least 2,000 men to the location—Davy Crockett and many others convinced the small crew to stay and fight with them.
The Mexican army, under Santa Anna, arrived and initiated a 13-day siege. The Texans did a great job holding out, but the defense ultimately couldn’t last. The Mexican army eventually overran the fort and killed almost all of the Texan men. A few non-combatants, including perhaps some women, children, and slaves, were left alive to tell the story.
Speaking of stories. Somehow, there are stories floating around today about secret tunnels underneath the Alamo and people wondering why they didn’t use the tunnels to escape. The truth is that there aren’t any secret escape tunnels under the Alamo. And there was no way for them to escape, even if they wanted to. Today, the tunnels in San Antonio are used to control flooding. And not too long after, they proved their worth as the people of San Antonio at their beautiful Riverwalk were hit with dangerous, sudden floodwater while eating their dinner, and they didn’t even know it. Now, back to the Alamo
“Remember the Alamo!”
The tragic defeat gave rise to the iconic battle cry: “Remember the Alamo!”.
Sam Houston became furious and quickly put together an army. They chased down Santa Anna and eventually found him at the San Jacinto. The resulting battle was incredibly swift, lasting only about 18 minutes before Santa Anna was captured and forced to surrender.
This victory established Texas as its own country. Ten years later, Texas would join the United States, becoming the Lone Star State.
A Leadership Lesson from History
Today, the Alamo is definitely worth traveling down here and checking out; it’s a cool place to visit. But beyond the history and the travel, there is a powerful leadership lesson embedded in the story.
The battle cry “Remember the Alamo” represents the idea that leaders are brave and will fight for what they know is right in their hearts. The Texans were fighting for their independence and freedom away from what Santa Anna was becoming: a dictator.
Leaders fight for what they believe in, and they fight for something bigger than themselves. This is the ultimate legacy of the Alamo.
Thank you for spending time with me on the Traveling Time with Dan Show, where we continue to mix travel, history, and leadership.
Uncovering History. Inspiring Leadership. The Travel in Time Show is where travel, history, and leadership intermingle with history teacher, author, and speaker Dan Blanchard
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