Feb. 19, 2003

If you’re interested in experiencing culture shock, try starting at The Alamo and landing shortly thereafter in Cajun country. The neighboring states of Texas and Louisiana are as different as night and day. If the switch from Spanish to French doesn’t throw you for a loop, the culinary changes will.

After finishing off my enchilada/taco combination at The Republic of Texas, I headed over to The Alamo, just a few blocks away. Famous for the 13-day siege in 1836 when Colonel William B. Travis, James Bowie, Davey Crockett, and others held off the army of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna’s Mexican soldiers, The Alamo now offers peaceful grounds for visitors to take a look at this episode of history.

I spent much of my time wandering, attempting to figure out which buildings and walls were original and which were added more recently. Luckily, a complimentary brochure was available to clear these questions up. Stone walls and arches surrounding The Alamo have been added since the 1920s. The Sales Museum was built in 1936 and holds historical displays, as well as a gift shop. Rebuilt from original stones, the Long Barracks houses a museum and theatre. Still standing, though with an added roof, is the church and shrine. Glass display cases hold many items of interest to history buffs, including a rifle belonging to Davey Crockett, whose position during the siege was not far from the church building. No pictures are allowed inside this building.

In the 1800s, the layout included the area that is now Alamo Plaza, as well as the section of Alamo St. directly in front of the grounds, extending back to the church. Now the property stretches back through gardens to include vending machines and restrooms. A meeting hall and library for the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, who maintain the site, are also here. Per the brochure, the DRT is required by Texas law to preserve The Alamo, a task entrusted to this organization since 1905. Yet no funding is received from local, state or federal government, so the group depends on gift shop sales and donations entirely to keep up the preservation.

It was interesting to see this glimpse into American history, but I knew I needed to hit the road.  I retrieved my car from the parking lot behind La Villita and headed east again on I-10.  One Starbuck’s and one motel room later, I crossed the Texas/Louisiana border.