New Alamo cam
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/alamocam

Powderhouse found?

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East Side historic site discovered
By Scott Huddleston
October 21, 2016

Various types of ceramics, possibly from the early 1800s, were also found in City Cemetery No. 2, providing further evidence of the site of the powder house and three-story watch tower that sat on a hill when ... more

City officials have discovered the site of a Spanish colonial-era lookout tower and gunpowder storage house on the East Side, adding a broader perspective to the story of the Alamo and early San Antonio.

The base of a wall and artifacts tie the site, in City Cemetery No. 2 at Commerce Street and Palmetto Avenue, to the historic "powder house and watch tower," stone structures whose exact location has long been pondered by Alamo enthusiasts. Details of the find were released late Friday at a symposium at the Witte Museum.

The lookout tower, on the edge of a large topographical terrace, also was likely used to protect the village of Bjar from hostile indigenous bands and other invaders long before the cemetery was established in 1884.

"This would have commanded a really significant view of not only the Salado Creek Valley, but of the San Antonio River Valley," Elverson said.

Especially critical among the artifacts were the gunflints. Military historian Sam Nesmith said they are the size of those used by Mexican forces to fire their Brown Bess muskets.
"It shows that they were making gunflints there, in addition to throwing away used and broken gunflints," Elverson said.

After the 1880s, the area became known as Powder House Hill, for its ties to the powder house.

Hindes said the discovery arose from an initiative to pinpoint more sites, including abandoned former missions, battlegrounds and presidios, in preparation for the city's yearlong tricentennial celebration in 2018. The city will commemorate the 1718 founding of the first Mission de Valero and village of San Antonio de Bjar.

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a.k.a. 'Garita'. Like finding the Titanic.

I'm absolutely fascinated with that last siege drawing. I wish I could find a copy online that is larger.

The urban landscape really mutes the topography.

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Under the proposals, the state-owned Crockett, Palace and Woolworth's buildings on the west side of Alamo Plaza would retain their late 1800s and early 1900s facades but be gutted to become a 120,000-square-foot visitor center.

The center would feature at least five galleries, each focusing on an era of the Alamo, which served as a U.S. Army depot and a general store in the decades after the famed 1836 siege and battle for Texas independence from Mexico. The Land Office purchased the buildings a year ago for $14.4 million.
The planning team recommends a flow of visitors entering the site from the south, in the area of the historic location of a main gate that served the Mission San Antonio de Valero and 1830s Alamo. Officials envision a hologram production explaining, in about 20 minutes, the site's 300-year recorded history in the entrance of the museum, which would charge admission.

Removal of traffic, demolition of non-historic walls around the Alamo Gardens on the east end of a state-owned historic complex and relocation of the 1930s Alamo Cenotaph from the city-owned plaza to a linear park by the River Walk about two blocks south would help open up the area as a public space and encourage a more reverent atmosphere, officials said.

The city is working with amusement attractions that occupy the state-owned buildings under long-term leases to move to a new, nearby entertainment district.

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Master plan proposed

Can you post the drawings or plans if there are any? The link is behind a pay wall. Also, was this part of the Phil Collins stipulation for donating his collection?

There are no real photos or plans posted yet, unfortunately. When they do become available I bring 'em here.

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Also, was this part of the Phil Collins stipulation for donating his collection?

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I believe so, at least the museum part.

The cenotaph is being moved to the area near the funeral pyers along the Alameda (Commerce St)

I really wish they would move the Woolworth and Crockett Block, but that would take some decent cash.

Maybe Graham Weston is looking for more fun project's downtown?

Overall view. So, S Alamo is getting shut down. Houston St is staying open and Crockett is closing.

Master Plan

https://therivardreport.com/visuals-of-reimagined-alamo-plaza-emerge/

Starting to see more public kick back to the plans.
General consensus in the nay party is that:

• Too modern resembles "theme park" rather than a historic and hallowed ground.
• Plans for paid admission museums and restaurants over looking the courtyard detract from the sacredness of the site.
• Diminishes battle of Alamo and instead focus on multicultural history of the Mission. There are even rumors that signage will refer to the site as San Antonio De Valero Mission rather than simply "The Alamo"

More details:
Video Presentation of Master Plan

I have mixed thoughts on the plan, but overall I'm happy to see something being done.

182 years ago the Siege of Bexar began on Dec 5th. Ben Milam and Frank Johnson led 2 columns of Texans and attacked the Mexican troops occupying San Antonio. After 4 days of house to house fighting, Gen. Cos surrendered. Cos made a pledge to take his troops south of the Rio Grande, not to take up arms against Texas and to recognize the Constitution of 1824. Gen. Cos would break his pledge when 3 months later, his division was part of the Mexican force that overran the Alamo's north wall.

Thank you for the reminder to put the Texas flag out on the house in the morning. (It's on the old Alamo Farmland)

A living historian gives an explanation of dentistry at the Alamo in the 1830's

Nice map plotting Houston's retreat from Gonzales to San Jacinto and other events during the Texas Revolution

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=107244975480431318607.00045a4663091cf87e80a&z=8

Cen-Tex said:

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Nice map plotting Houston's retreat from Gonzales to San Jacinto and other events during the Texas Revolution

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=107244975480431318607.00045a4663091cf87e80a&z=8

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Nice