Collective Memory, Economic Growth, and Reverence: Recent Investigations at the Alamo

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Paper / Report Submission (General Sessions)", at the 2024 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

The story of the Battle of the Alamo is known to many. However, what may not be known is that the site of the Alamo was, and continues to be, an economic hub for the city of San Antonio. Recent investigations by Alamo archaeologists have shed more light on the bustling commercial history of the site. Spanish Colonial artifacts were found in the same context as the brick footprint of an early twentieth century automobile complex and the limestone foundation of a nineteenth century saloon was encountered just south of the revered Alamo Church. In the years following the famous Battle of the Alamo, the site was valued for its location and the story of the Alamo Defenders was commoditized. Before collective memory brought reverence to the Alamo site, it partially resulted in a growth of the local economy as commercial enterprises built around the famous landmark.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2024   •
• Paper / Report Submission (General Sessions)

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Nicole Haddow