Learning about the Alamo

“Remember the Alamo!” What does it really mean? What comes to mind when you think of the Alamo? Well when I think about the Alamo I know it’s a battle that we lost but we had pride and no backed out. Every time I pass by the Alamo I stare at it and I can picture in my head a battle going on with men on horses with swords going every which way.
When I recently went to visit the Alamo, I learned plenty of things I did not know about but it was very interesting. Something that caught my attention is the rectangular grass area in front of the Alamo is known as the heart of the Alamo. Also when you walked inside the Alamo it was a church too, and back then when they had the battle the Alamo didn’t have a roof like it dose now. Walking around the Alamo I walked in a room where it had a black and white photo of a man named Jose` Francisco Ruiz who was a native of San Antonio de Bexar, before I died he was known for being a solider and state man; he also commanded the Alamo Company.
If you get a chance go to the Alamo and walk around. I’ve been to the Alamo before but only the front area I never until recently walked into the Alamo and looked at everything. It really makes you think and I can say I proud to live and be a part of my city, the good ol’ San Antonio!

Espada Aqueducts~Then to Now

Espada Aqueduct carries water from the beginning of the San Antonio River across where Piedras Creek is; the water continues to provide for the mission irrigation system. To go out to the aqueduct today and see it still stand today with hearing the water as it flows on by; I could only imagine if it sounded that same way years ago when the people who built the missions were still alive. I also think the river helped the missions when people needed directions. I feel that it had a wonderful impact on the missions and it made a difference. I read an article on the web at: http://www.historicbridgefoundation.com/ipages/texas/southtx/bexar/aqueduct.html and it says how it was completed in 1740 and it goes into details about the dam and what-not. Reading the article on the web I said “Even so, the dam, ditch, and aqueduct survived a century of Indian attacks, ravaging floods, and controversy before the Espada Ditch Ompany repaired the dam, in 1895. In 1941, to help insure the preservation of this singular colonial aqueduct, the San Antonio Conservation Society purchased the adjacent lands.” What excites me is that still today by the Missions and the aqueducts some or most of the residents are Native Americans. I think it’s important today that we have the missions and the aqueducts because it’s a part of our life and our culture and who we are. Anyone can read about the Espada Aqueducts but to go there and see it and to know it’s a massive part of history; it’s impressive to see it still stand today and have more meaning. I just think back then people cared about their environment and did what they could to take care of things. Now I’m not saying people don’t care but obviously some people don’t because it was depressing for me to visit the aqueducts today and see the main sign spray painted on. Even the sign is a part of history. Because of history the missions and aqueducts we’re who we are and where we are. What if the water wasn’t there back then? Would we be here still today? History is important, it teaches you why things are the way they are. Today still having the aqueducts, knowing it’s a landmark, knowing its history, knowing everything that has happened there, still having water flow on by; it’s all incredibly important.

Another thing that’s remarkable about the Espada Aqueducts is the architecture. “16th century Spanish explorers knew that water meant life, success, and survival,” written by Public works project.

Mission Espada, San Antonio

Mission San Francisco de la Espada through My Eyes

Just last week I took a trip down to what is known as Mission Espada. Before my adventure I only knew a little about Mission Espada, but when I took my trip down there I learned so much more and to be outside where the court yard is; I was walking where history took place.
Small history lesson: Mission Espada was first established in Mississippi, then around 1720 it was in Austin, and finally settled in San Antonio in 1731. Carmino Real is one of the oldest roads in Americas and its right by the Espada Church.
Walking into the church at Espada was amazing, but it was not the first church there that was built. The first church was not strong enough, so they knocked it down and built the second one which still stands today. There’s a story behind the arch where the doors are at in front of the church and a story behind the statues inside.
What hit me the most is when I was at the court yard? When Park Ranger Martinez was explaining everything that went on and where it took place, it amazed me. I could picture things happening in my head, but everything was black and white. The black smiths were by the first made church to the left and by Carmino Real road is by the soldiers were practicing their drills. I could see Mexicans and Native Americans, the children sitting by the will learning their Latin/Spanish for school.
If you get a chance to take a walk at Mission Espada, please do. When you’re reading the history about it and you see the church, the will, and the bricks, it’s overwhelming. Take it all in and appreciate what you have but don’t forget where you came from.