Renovate the Alamo!

The Alamo is getting a facelift.

The Daughters of the Republic of Texas, who have safeguarded the shrine since 1902, are preparing the Alamo's first master plan for upgrades since 1979. DRT officials said they can mitigate the destructive forces of nature and man if they can raise large sums for preservation. They also want to enhance visitors' experience at the hallowed site.
Their plans, due out in May, will call for fresh analyses of the corrosive influences on the shrine. Costly steps may be required to slow the flaking of limestone that dissolves architectural details and historic graffiti from the Alamo facade, officials said.

The Alamo still bears the scars of the 1836 siege in which 189 defenders were defeated by Mexican forces, a rout that spurred the cries of "Remember the Alamo!" at the decisive Battle of San Jacinto near Houston. Chunks of stone are missing due to cannon blasts, bullets and natural crumbling, but even though the flaws could be fixed, the DRT won't do that, Alamo Director David Stewart said.

"People want to see the church pretty much as it was, with the signs of history on the front of it," Stewart said. "The Historical Commission is very adamant about that, also," he said. Even so, there are discussions about restoring part of the Alamo's interior that were reworked in the 1850s, Oaks said.

That's how it should be. I wish the DTR good luck in putting the Alamo in better shape for the long term.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on March 07, 2007 to The great state of Texas