Kangaroo's Flat Stanley goes to San Antonio

From February 13 - 17, 2012, I had the opportunity to travel to San Antonio, Texas.  Do you know what San Antonio is famous for?  

The Battle of the Alamo!

This is a picture of the outside of the Alamo, which was originally a mission.  It was named Misión San Antonio de Valero, and it served as home to missionaries for nearly seventy years. In the early 1800s, the Spanish military stationed a cavalry unit (basically soldiers who fought on horseback) at the former mission. 

The soldiers referred to the old mission as the Alamo (the Spanish word for "cottonwood") in honor of their hometown Alamo de Parras, Coahuila. 

The Battle of the Alamo was an event where many men fought bravely against overwhelming odds and died for their freedom. The Alamo is where Texas liberty was born!

San Antonio and the Alamo played a big role in the Texas Revolution. In December 1835,  Texian and Tejano volunteers fought against Mexican troops in San Antonio. After five days of house-to-house fighting, they forced General Martín Perfecto de Cós and his soldiers to surrender. The victorious volunteers then occupied the Alamo and strengthened its defenses. Mexico held authority over the Alamo in 1821, and tension grew between the Mexican style of government and the Texans. Hostilities over his leadership style continued to grow until Texas revolutionaries began to battle Mexican troops. A twelve-day battle ultimately occurred at the Alamo and hundreds were killed. The Alamo is considered a place where men made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. In 1845, the United States added Texas to the US Territory. Eventually, the U.S. government purchased the Alamo's chapel and other buildings.

Here I am by one of the windows of the mission.

One famous member of the battle of the Alamo was David "Davy" Crockett, who was famous for his abilities as an adventurer, bear hunter, and Indian fighter. His life would make him the subject of many a tall tale, but he really did wear a raccoon cap! Crockett's very real role in the Alamo was to keep up the team spirit for the fighters defending the mission. He played his fiddle to encourage the troops and provided advice to military commanders. He died at the Battle of the Alamo.

Teddy Roosevelt spent a lot of time in San Antonio, too.  

He recruited "Rough Riders" here at the historic Menger Hotel. Mr. Roosevelt gathered a diverse bunch of men consisting of cowboys, gold or mining prospectors, hunters, gamblers, Native Americans and college boys; all of whom were able-bodied and capable on horseback and in shooting. Among these men were also police officers and military veterans who wished to see action again. 

The Menger Hotel overlooks The Alamo and people have reported seeing the ghost of Teddy Roosevelt in the Menger Bar! 

A modern attraction of San Antonio is the "Riverwalk".  The San Antonio Riverwalk is in downtown San Antonio. It consists of a network of walkways on the banks of the San Antonio River. The walkways, one level below street level, are lined with many restaurants, shops, and hotels. They connect many of downtown San Antonio's attractions. Here I am taking a break from all the sightseeing.

I hope you enjoyed sharing my experience in San Antonio with me!