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The Alamo.

THE main historic point of San Antonio is the Alamo Plaza, formerly the
Plaza de Valero, for on it is the famous and historic Alamo. Its ecclesi-
astical name was the Mission de San Antonio de Valero, so called from
San Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of the city, and the Duke de
Valero, the Spanish Viceroy. How it came to be called the Alam8, is a
matter of conjecture. Alamo signifies cotton wood and as the building
lies under the shade of such big trees, this may have originated the name,
but it is quite possible that as the first garrison came from Fort Alamo de Parras in the
Province of Coahuila, Mexico, they gave it that name.
This mission seems to have had a migratory existence prior to its settlement on
its present site. It was originally established in 1703 on the cienagua of the Rio Grande,
thence it was moved to San Ildephonso. After that it was removed to San Antonio. It
was first at San Pedro Springs, then on the Military Plaza and afterwards where it now
stands.
The building was erected in 1718, but the corner stone bears the date of 1757. The
reason for this discrepancy is not known. It would appear as if the building was first
of a different form to what it was known later, that originally there were two towers and
a belfry to sound an alarm on the approach of hostile Indians, and to call the people to
mass. Apparently in design it originally resembled the first mission as it is seen
today.
The Alamo as a mission was in charge of the Franciscan monks, who educated
and christianized the friendly Indians and protected them, the huge thick walls being
invulnerable to attack. There were no windows then on the lower floor and Indians had
to shoot arrows upward, striking the ceiling and doing no harm.