Monday, Oct. 2, Texas General Land Office Commissioner George P. Bush and the Alamo concluded Cannon Fest, a weekend-long event exploring the artillery of the Texas Revolution, by announcing conservation efforts for the Alamo's seven 1836 battle cannons. Preservation work will be performed in partnership with the Texas A&M University Conservation Research Lab in College Station, Texas. Following the announcement, visitors and media were invited to witness the first two of the Alamo's cannons make their way to the lab in College Station.
"We're here today to save a piece of our history for future generations," said Texas General Land Office Commissioner George P. Bush. "Our efforts to preserve and protect the Alamo are first and foremost about the story of the battle itself. It was the 13 days of battle in 1836 that made this mission sacred and it's that same battle that provides our focus today. That is why these cannons today are so important. These cannons were used in the Battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836. They sat on platforms of new wood on the perimeter of this fortress, trained on the enemy. Heroes died manning them. We need these cannons to last so future Texans can see 1836 for themselves and we need your help. We're launching this fundraiser today to give you a chance to help save them."
The Alamo's cannon collection represents the largest collection of Texas Revolution artillery that visitors can see in one place. Seven of the cannons were present at the Alamo at the time of the 1836 battle. At Texas A&M, they will receive comprehensive preservation care under the supervision of Jim Jobling, the Lab Manager.
"The Alamo cannon have been exposed to the elements for many years, and are now in need of a good cleaning and stabilization," said Jim Jobling. "The Conservation Research Lab at Texas A&M University has cleaned and conserved thousands of artifacts over the past 39 years, and we're thrilled to be part of this special effort to preserve the 1836 Alamo battle cannon for future generations of Texans."
The cannons will be sent to the lab at Texas A&M two at a time, and upon their return, will be re-installed at the Alamo for visitors to continue to enjoy.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help raise the funds necessary to preserve the cannons. A lead gift of $7,000 was presented by the Brown Foundation in Houston, Texas, marking a big first step toward the $50,000 goal. Texans and history lovers can contribute to preserving the cannons by visiting www.gofundme.com/alamobattlecannon.
"We want to thank the Brown Foundation for its generous contribution toward giving these cannons the care that they deserve," said Alamo CEO Doug McDonald. "This is an important step toward ensuring that visitors will be able to enjoy these artifacts and learn about the Alamo's pivotal role in the Texas Revolution for years to come."
Download Cannon Fest b-roll and assets: bit.ly/CannonFest17 (case sensitive).
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