Posted by Paul Anderson on Feb 04, 2018
 
Becky Dinnin, Executive Director for The Alamo Endowment, addressed the club regarding the current plan - known as the Alamo Master Plan, to preserve the 1836 Alamo battlefield.
 
Becky is a sixth generation Texan and a direct descendant of Sarah Dodson, known for sewing one of the first Texas flags.  Sarah's father, Edward Bradley, moved to Texas in 1823 as one of Stephen F. Austin's original three hundred. Sarah's husband, Archelaus, was among the early Texas volunteers when hostilities broke out with the Mexicans in the fall of 1835.  He joined Andrew Robinson in forming the Harrisburg Company of Texas volunteers.  Sarah designed a flag for the volunteers, and that flag was in San Antonio for the December 1835 siege of the city.
 
In referencing her proud Texas heritage, Becky also took time to honor some of the original heroes of the Alamo preservation effort. 
 
One such individual was Clara Driscoll, an author, politician, cattlewoman, and activist who purchased the Alamo church for $75K in 1903 (and was later reimbursed by the state in 1905).  She also lobbied the state for $84K to purchase land behind the Alamo church for the Alamo park - now the 1936 gardens.  She is also responsible for building the Alamo gift shop for $50K.  For her efforts, Clara is often referred to as the Savior of the Alamo.
 
 
Another notable contributor to the Alamo preservation effort was school teacher Adina De Zavala.  When she learned of the city's plan to tear down the old Convento (long barracks) to build a hotel and park, she barricaded herself in the Long Barrack for three days with no food or water, saving the historic structure.  Adina ultimately convinced the state to protect and make the Long Barrack a part of the historic property.
 
 
Unfortunately, despite the efforts of Clara, Adina, and many others to protect and preserve the grounds of the Alamo for noble historic purposes, this is the scene you'll often see now - right on top of the hallowed ground where many defenders of the Alamo died in their fight for Texas independence.
 
 
The Alamo Master Plan attempts to take back the grounds of this historic landmark, increasing the total public space from approximately 2.7 acres to approximately 9.5 acres, placing a buffer zone between the Alamo grounds and the remaining 6 acres or so of public "1st Amendment" space.
 
Currently, the Alamo Master Plan proposes a few key concepts toward its goal of preserving the 1836 Alamo battlefield:
 
1) Preserve the Alamo Church and the Long Barracks. Texas' most treasured historic buildings are in desperate need of repair. The Master Plan proposes that preservation work begins this year, preserving the buildings as they are today, so that future generations can visit and remember.
 
2) Remove entertainment attractions from the 1836 battlefield. Alamo Plaza and Alamo Street, which were both part of the 1836 Alamo battlefield, are currently owned by the City of San Antonio. The plan proposes removing current entertainment attractions from the battlefield and shifting ownership and care of these battlefield areas to the State and people of Texas.
 
3) Close Alamo Street (which currently runs directly on top of the 1836 Alamo battlefield) to vehicle traffic.
 
4) Create an Alamo museum, and the world’s largest exhibit on the Texas Revolution, in the buildings currently known as the Crockett Block, located across the street from the Alamo.
 
5) Restore and preserve the Alamo Cenotaph, which was erected in the battlefield area in 1939 (more on this in the FAQ section below).
 
Additionally, Becky mentioned that the Alamo frequently appears as a vulnerable target on terrorist websites and that a major security overhaul is needed to help deter attacks from these organizations.
 
Economic payback on the project is expected in 6 to 10 years as there will be greater incentive for tourists and local residents alike to stay longer and visit the expanded landmark.
 
If you're interested, you can find out more about the project, as well as additional images and answers to frequently asked questions at the following website:
 
 
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