THE LAST STAND AT THE ALAMO REIMAGINING THE ALAMO FOR TEXANS AND - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

THE LAST STAND AT THE ALAMO

REIMAGINING THE ALAMO FOR TEXANS AND TOURISTS

By: Vincent Jacot Esterofilia Heritage

San Antonio De Valero Mission

The Battle of the Alamo

The Daughter of the Republic of Texas (DRT)

The Alamo Site circa 1905

1800s 1900s

How the DRT Mythologized the Battle of the Alamo

• Fabricated events
• Utilized religiously loaded language
• Expunged the positive role ethnic

minorities

• Emphasized the negative actions of

minorities

Turning San Antonio de Valero into “The Alamo”

• Placed significant events inside the

property they owned

• Ignored centuries of the site’s

heritage

• Secularized the church
• Used the loaded language from their

historical writings in the sites narrative

The Alamo as Tourist Attraction

Alamo Tourist Experience: The Church

Alamo Tourist Experience: The Church

Alamo Tourist Experience: The Courtyard

Alamo Tourist Experience: Long Barracks Museum

Alamo Tourist Experience: Alamo Plaza

Alamo Tourist Experience: Alamo Plaza

Reimagining the Alamo

Details of the Reimagine the Alamo Project

• Overseen by the Texas General Land Office

(GLO)

• Completion goal of 2024
• $450 million- dollar project
• Commenced in 2015
• First two moves:
• Purchase of Alamo Plaza buildings
• Designate the site as a UNESCO Heritage

site along with sister missions

Reimagining the Alamo

Three Competing Factions Traditionalists Ensure that the site remains a place of memory solely for the battle Revisionists Seize the opportunity to correct historical inaccuracies Economic Stakeholders Modernity and Efficiency

Reimagine the Alamo: Master Plan

Table 2: “Reimagine the Alamo” Master Plan Key Concepts Attraction Component Key Concepts The Church & Long Barracks  Preserve the structures as they are today  Expand and modernize the on-site museums The Alamo Plaza  Move the Cenotaph out of plaza  Build museum dedicated to Alamo/Texas Revolution

• Replacing the entertainment attractions

 Close Alamo Street to create walkable plaza

• Glass wall in footprint of old mission

Other  Free speech zone behind Alamo

Project Update:

By late 2017 the GLO has capitulated to traditionalist elements:

• Glass wall removed from plan
• Development team reshuffled
• Began using charged terms
• Focus on battle, not entire history of the site

Suggestions for Reimagining the Alamo

Use Attractions Narrative And Location To Re-establish Significance Of The Site

Turning A Neglected Heritage Site Into A Place Of Memory

Suggestions 1. Move The Cenotaph And Replace It With A New Memorial 2. Bring Back The Remains Of The Defenders 3. Use The Church To Tell The Stories Of The Defenders

Improving the Tourist Experience

Suggestions 1. Remove The Rules Of Reverence 2. Remove DRT Memorials 3. Use Supplemental Attractions To Deepen The Narrative And Experience 4. Improve Museum Store Products and Experience

Balancing Commemoration And Commercialization

VS.

Balancing Commemoration And Commercialization

Utilizing A Heritage Based Brand To Attract Tourists

Incorporating Dissonant Heritage In An Established Attraction

Incorporating Dissonant Heritage In An Established Attraction

Incorporating Dissonant Heritage In An Established Attraction

In Conclusion

Work Cited

1. www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qea02. (2010). Battle of the Alamo. [online] [Accessed Oct 17, 2017] 2. Flores, R. (2003) Remembering the Alamo: memory, modernity, and the master symbol. University of Texas Press. 3. www.texasobserver.org/san-antonio-reimagines-the-alamo/. (2014). San Antonio Reimagines the Alamo. [online] [Accessed Oct 17, 2017] 4. Phillips, Davis Personal Interview Oct 7 2015 5. www.savethealamo.us/. (2017) “Say "NO!" to Reimagine the Alamo. *online+ *Accessed Oct 17, 2017] 6. medium.com/@txglo/a-plan-to-save-the-alamo-3194b1ae636e/. (2017) “A Plan to Save The Alamo – Texas General Land Office – Medium [online] [Accessed Oct 17, 2017] 7. Latham, Ryan Personal Interview April 16, 2017 8. Range, Rick Personal Interview Oct 24, 2017