Working Together for a Brighter Future for the Alamo

Contact: George P. Bush
512-936-9582
BY TEXAS LAND COMMISSIONER GEORGE P. BUSH
EDITORIAL — October 15, 2015



San Antonio — This week, the City of San Antonio, the Texas General Land Office and the nonprofit Alamo Endowment will enter into a Cooperative Agreement to develop a joint master plan for the Alamo Historic District and Alamo Complex. By joining forces, our organizations now begin a redevelopment of Texas’ most beloved historic site, the Cradle of Texas Liberty so that, for the first time, visitors will see a complete historic interpretation of The Alamo from the time of its inception in the 1700’s, to the famous battle of 1836, and beyond.

Thanks to the efforts of Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, and Speaker Straus, the Texas legislature came together in a landmark session to commit a historic appropriation to help make a brighter tomorrow for The Alamo. San Antonio’s five Spanish colonial missions, including The Alamo, were designated a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) this year – the first in Texas and one of only 23 in the United States. Although each of our organizations have committed substantial capital to fund this effort - the State of Texas at $25 million and the City of San Antonio at $17 million – we know more funds will be necessary. The Alamo Endowment will seize this opportunity to raise capital to fully fund this master plan.

The planning process will be managed by the GLO and the Endowment, in coordination with the City. Every stakeholder will have a seat at the table. The Texas Land Commissioner and Mayor of San Antonio will serve as the Executive Committee, providing executive management oversight. Both of us have equal say and can veto any portion, ensuring an unbiased, fair process that respects the needs of the City with those of the State. We will be advised by the Alamo Management Committee, which will consist of two representatives each from the city, the GLO and the Alamo Endowment. The Alamo Management Committee will receive input from the Alamo Advisory Group, comprised of state and local elected officials and representatives, and from a Citizens Advisory Group, comprised of 26 people appointed by the Mayor, City Council and the GLO.  This structure enables us to seek the very best professionals for every assignment. We encourage all those who worked on the project previously to submit their resumes for consideration and we will also be interviewing experts from across the United States.

We want the experience of visiting The Alamo to be on par with other renowned historic landmarks and battlefields in our country including Gettysburg, Valley Forge, Williamsburg, the Presidio of San Francisco, or Jamestown. This management structure puts into place the very best team to guide this process so that we incorporate the big ideas and best practices utilized in places we love to visit, along with input from the many local community members and stakeholder groups who have fought for so many years to see this project come to fruition. We are also pleased by the support and advice we’ve received from the Chairman of the Texas Historical Commission, John Nau III, and those across the state who are committed to protecting and celebrating Texas’ rich history.

Over the past decade, San Antonio invested significantly in some of our most cherished places: The Pearl, Lincoln Heights and the Alamo Quarry, Longhorn Quarry, the Witte Museum expansion, Hemisfair, and the extensions of the San Antonio River. Now we begin our most important task. Together, we will invest our time and the best of our resources to honor the heart of our city and our state - The Alamo, and the beautiful sister missions that created San Antonio.  

San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor

Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush



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