Alamo
San Antonio, The Alamo
The symbol of the state of Texas and Texas independence. The Alamo was originally a mission, but then was occupied by the military of the Spanish, rebels, and Mexicans in the early 1800s. After the Mexican army was defeated by the rebels in San Antonio in 1836, the victors retreated to the Alamo, and soon afterwards were held under siege by Mexican General Santa Anna. After 13 days of fighting, all of the defenders, including Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, were killed. But the Alamo served as a symbol and motivated others to fight, and only a short time later Santa Anna's troops were defeated outside of what is now Houston, and Texas gained its independence from Mexico and became its own republic.
©Bill Yeaton