In the 19th century, the Alamo mission was used as a fortress and was the scene of several military actions, including most notably the 1836 Battle of the Alamo, one of the pivotal battles between the forces of the Republic of Texas and Mexico during the Texas Revolution.
None of the defenders survived the battle. The official List of Alamo Defenders lists 189 names although there may have been as many as 257. Most of the defenders died during the battle, seven survivors were executed and all were burned on site.
In 1936, at the 100th anniversary of the
Battle of the Alamo, it was decided to erect a monument in honor of the defenders. Architect Carlton Adams designed the monument and sculptor Pompeo Coppini supervised the building. It was erected west of the Alamo Mission at the precise site, were the bodies of the killed defenders were burned It was dedicated on March 6, 1940.
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