Although most people think of “The Alamo” as the old Mission church building, "The Alamo" is actually a complex of buildings courtyards, and gardens that was a self-sustaining community in 1836.
Construction on Mission San Antonio de Valero began in 1724 to house missionaries and their converts, but ended up playing an important role in the Texas Revolution. On February 23, 1836, General Travis, Jim Bowie, Davie Crockett, and about 200 other volunteers were at The Alamo when Antonio de Padua Maria Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón (aka Santa Anna) showed up with about 5,000 troops to chase the rebels out of Mexico. For thirteen days the rebels held The Alamo, then on March 6 the Mexican soldiers captured the compound.
However, the thirteen days that it took Santa Anna to capture The Alamo gave General Sam Houston and the Texas Forces time to regroup and on April 21 (46 days later) Santa Anna was defeated at the Battle of San Jacinto and was captured hiding in a marsh wearing a dragoon private’s uniform.
In
exchange for his life, Santa Anna signed the Treaties of Velasco acknowledging “the
full, entire, and perfect Independence of the Re[public of Texas;” but back in
Mexico City, a new government declared that Santa Anna was no longer president
and that the treaty with Texas was null and void.
After
some time in exile in the United States, and after meeting with U.S. President
Andrew Jackson in 1837, Santa Anna was allowed to return to Mexico to retire to
his hacienda in Veracruz. However, that didn’t last long and Santa Anna soon
regained his status of General to fight the French Army, and then went on to become
president of Mexico for 5th time.
However,
as in the past, the presidency did not last long and once again Santa Anna was exiled
to the United States. While living in Staten Island, New York, in 1869 Santa
Anna was trying to raise money for an army to return and take over Mexico City,
so he started importing chicle. With the help of his secretary, Thomas Adams,
they wanted to replace the rubber in carriage tires with chicle, but it was an
unsuccessful venture and did not ever work.
While
working as secretary, Thomas Adams noted that Santa Anna always chewed chicle;
so he decided to add some sugar to the chicle and market the product as “Chiclets
Chewing Gum.” Thomas Adams is now known as the founder of the chewing gum industry.
He eventually joined with well-known chewing gum maker William Wrigley, Jr. to
market his product, which is still sold in stores today. So, every time we purchase a pack of chewing gum, we can thank Santa Anna!
After
touring The Alamo, we strolled along the River Walk and had lunch at, of
course, a Mexican restaurant.
The Alamo Mission Building
Alamo Exterior Wall
Alamo Exterior Wall
Alamo Courtyard
Canon Used in Alamo Battle With Santa Anna
San Antonio River Walk
San Antonio River Walk
River Walk Canal
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