Phil Collins donates Alamo Artefacts

[Coldshooter]

Per this feature Phil Collins has donated a large collection of Alamo items from his collection. He became interested after watching a 50's TV series on Davey Crockett.

BBC News - Phil Collins hands over Alamo artefacts

 

[Malpasowildlifer]

very cool.....

 

[Smoke]

I was stationed in San Antonio in 91-92 and I got to spend a lot of my free time at the Alamo. One thing that I found was that the Texans take that place very seriously.

There was a sign on the door of the main chapel when I was there requiring that all males remove their headgear and everyone entering was to remain silent. Let me tell you when you went in that main chapel you could have heard a pin drop

 

[reddogge]

My biggest impression was how small it was.

 

[Smoke]

My biggest impression was how small it was.

The thing that shocked me the most was the location. I expected it to be out on the plains somewhere like it was in the John Wayne movie. Instead it was across the street from a Woolworth’s and a Burger King in Downtown SA

 

[sophie]

I had read and seen Phil Collin's collection on memorabilia from the Alamo and was quite suprised that a guy like him was that interested in the Alamo and the history of Texas. I think it is great and hope they build a room or place to display his collection. Way to go Phil.

 

[jack the toad]

The thing that shocked me the most was the location. I expected it to be out on the plains somewhere like it was in the John Wayne movie. Instead it was across the street from a Woolworth’s and a Burger King in Downtown SA

I think BK happened nearby a little later.

 

[Straightshooter2]

The thing that shocked me the most was the location. I expected it to be out on the plains somewhere like it was in the John Wayne movie. Instead it was across the street from a Woolworth’s and a Burger King in Downtown SA

Same with me along with the size. We moved to San Antonio in 1965 when my dad was stationed at Ft. Sam. One day we were riding through downtown and mom asked me what was that little building was. I told her I thought it was the Alamo and she said it couldn't be. Back then there was the USO, a Joske's of Texas and, I think, the Navy recruiter around it. Growing up on Disney's Davy Crockett I was disappointed that it wasn't sitting by itself on some open plain.

I read in one article that among the 200 items Collins donated was one of three or four existing rifles known to have belonged to Crockett and the total value of the donation was around 100 million!

CW

 

[Lee Barner]

that is wonderful news. when I was in the first grade(1956) the replica of davy crockett's cabin was dedicated on the school grounds in Rutherford, TN, the last home of Davy Crockett before he went to Texas to fight. some of the logs are from his cabin and others were donated from other old homesteads in the area. it is our little town's claim to fame. we celebrate Davy Crockett days the first week of October each year. I wish something of Davy's could come back here. lee

 

[jimmyj]

Jim Bowie's knife, Davy Crockett's rifle, and Poncho Villa's revolver.
Which is more rare ?

 

[Cyrano]

The Alamo doesn't like to take advice, however. Twice now I've told them they have misspelled the name on the card accompanying that Deringer, Phila, rifle (they spelled it Derringer).

 

[cowart]

My biggest impression was how small it was.

It was much larger at the time of the battle. All that still exists are the central buildings. The surrounding Plaza enclosure is completely gone.

 

[Beemer-mark]

I had read and seen Phil Collin's collection on memorabilia from the Alamo and was quite suprised that a guy like him was that interested in the Alamo and the history of Texas. I think it is great and hope they build a room or place to display his collection. Way to go Phil.

I read a story with an interview with Phil Collins in some historical magazine a few years ago and while not remembering any of the details he was a HUGE fan of the Alamo. Felt a spiritual attachment to it. He rates as one of the top historians and collectors on the battle, even though he was/is British. Had one of the largest collection of Alamo equipment in existence. Having always thought of him has a British rocker I was very impressed.

 

[jimmyj]

When I visited the Alamo in November 2013 one of the things that I observed that the small number of defenders was spread thin to defend all four walls, but they did an outstanding job for 13 days

 

[handejector]

The town grew to surround it.
It wasn't 'downtown' in 1836!

 

[DeathGrip]

Good on Phil Collins, I remember how much Ozzy thought of the Alamo.

 

[3dots]

I had no idea that Mr. Collins held this collection. I'm happy to have it back here in the great state of Texas where it belongs. He knew it belonged here and has probably been eating at him.

 

[Smoke]

The article I read said that the Alamo was going to expand the site and add a visitors center and Museum to house Collins’ artifacts.

 

[twobit601]

It does now look out of place among all the modern buildings. Anyone going to see it also needs to go in the Menger Hotel nearby. Lots of museum quality items from that era are on display.

When it was still open (it closed to the public a few years ago) the movie set for the original John Wayne movie, located on a ranch near Brackettville about 100 miles west of the real Alamo, had the chapel and many outbuildings recreated and it is surrounded by open ranch land so it looks very real and made you feel like you were standing in the 1800's.

In 1836, when the Alamo fell, the population for the area (now San Antonio) was 7000 people. Now it is about 1.5 million.

 

[Smoke]

13 Days to Glory: The Siege of the Alamo by Lon Tinkle ? Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists

Really good book about the Alamo. One of the things the author says is that Santa Anna's strategy was to keep the Texans awake until they were totally worn out and then stop the bombardment long enough to let them all fall asleep than storm the fort.

That was the reason for the 13 days.