Visitors listened to live readings and period music, watched a wreath-laying ceremony and observed a musket volley honoring those who fought and died at the mission.
SAN ANTONIO — Hundreds of visitors gathered at The Alamo early Friday morning to mark the 190th anniversary of the historic battle that helped shape Texas history.
The annual “Dawn at the Alamo” ceremony brought crowds to Alamo Plaza beginning at 6 a.m., honoring the 189 known defenders who died on March 6, 1836, during the Battle of the Alamo.
Throughout the morning, visitors listened to live readings and period music, watched a wreath-laying ceremony and observed a musket volley honoring those who fought and died at the mission.
The battle became a defining moment in the Texas Revolution, when Texian settlers and volunteers made a final stand against Mexican forces while fighting to form the Republic of Texas.
This year’s ceremony also highlighted a symbolic connection to one of the battle’s most well-known defenders, Davy Crockett. Officials displayed a piece of steppingstone from the Crockett family cabin, donated by David Crockett Birthplace State Park, linking the Tennessee site where Crockett was born to the place where he made his final stand.
Organizers say the annual sunrise ceremony continues to draw visitors from across Texas and beyond, offering a moment of reflection at one of the state’s most recognized historic landmarks.