Imagine the Plaza-abilities: An Exploration of Communal Space and Memory at Alamo Plaza

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Mission San Antonio de Valero and the Alamo – A Construction History from Mission to Military Fortress, Texas, United States", at the 2025 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

Since the establishment of Mission San Antonio de Valero at its current location in 1724, the adjoining open plaza has served as a communal space for mission residents, various militaries, and early businesses of Bexar County. Throughout the centuries, the plaza was utilized for a myriad of purposes, invoking different meaning each time. Now known as Alamo Plaza, this space was enclosed by a wall during the Mission Period and a gate on the south side was the main point of entry. A barrack was added by the military in the early 19th century. By the late 19th century, Alamo Plaza became a bustling center due to the presence of a military depot, a hotel, and several businesses. Recent archaeological investigations have provided new data regarding the historical use of Alamo Plaza. The rich history of Alamo Plaza has imbued it with a social memory that is still relevant today.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Mission San Antonio de Valero and the Alamo – A Construction History from Mission to Military Fortress, Texas, United States   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2025

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Nicole Haddow