San Antonio, Texas
History, Historic House
The Alamo began its existence in 1718 as Mission San Antonio de Valero, the oldest of San Antonio's five Spanish mission. In 1724, Spanish officials relocated Valero to the spot that the Alamo now occupies. Two original building remain from the mission period (1724-1793)-the church, or modem Shrine, and the convento, or Long Barrack. The mission was desecularized in 1793. Around 1803, a Spanish cavalry unit called the Second Flying Company of San Carlos de Parras, was quartered in the former mission compound and the site began several decades of use by the military, first Spanish followed by Mexican, Texan, United States, Confederate, and then U.S. again. The Alamo is best remembered for the epic battle which occurred in 1836 as one of the key events of the Texas Revolution.