Thursday Doors – At and Near the Alamo

Earlier this week, San Antonio, Texas celebrated its Tricentennial – 300 years! 300 years might not sound like much to readers in Europe, but here in the states, that’s a big deal. Fortunately, I can help them celebrate as I am still sifting through the pictures I took while attending the AIIM Conference in San Antonio. If you’re wondering how many doors I photographed, keep in mind that we were still experiencing winter in Connecticut and San Antonio offered me the chance to wear shorts, walk early and eat breakfast tacos.

The first morning in the city, I had decided to go see The Alamo. I wrote earlier about the fact that that didn’t take too long. Fortunately, the area around The Alamo offered many interesting doors. I think it’s appropriate to include them with the Alamo doors, because, many of the buildings I was viewing stand in what would have been part of the mission/fort/complex in the mid-to-late 1700’s.

The Alamo, was originally the Mission San Antonio de Valero, and was founded by the Spanish near the headwaters of the San Antonio River on May 1, 1718. Long before the famous battle, the Spanish were fighting off the French who were approaching from Louisiana as well as the native American Apache, and Comanche tribes. You can read much more about the early history of The Alamo in this article.

One of the Comanche elders was a man simply known as “Frampton.” He was responsible for maintaining the history of the tribe as they moved from settlement to settlement. He was famous for his detailed drawings of tent flaps. He made friends among the French settlers and followed them north along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers and then north into Canada. I think you know the rest of the story. If you want to see more door photos, visit the Frampton site and look for the blue frog.

There are some descriptions in the photo gallery today. You can start a slide show to read the full captions by clicking on any one picture.

This door is to a building that appears to be used for events. It was closed to visitors.

I wouldn’t want to exit that door.

Fortress Alamo – this was home to some museum space displaying numerous artifacts.

Gates, doors and windows. Beautiful workmanship, especially considering the period.

There is a very long line waiting to get inside these doors. The delay is because the flow is metered. As you approach, they take your picture. Later, you can buy it for about $30. I did not buy mine.

One of the gates in the perimeter wall to the Alamo.

This is inside the long building that housed the barracks and the hospital.

The hospital was behind that door.

The Spanish Hospital. I can only imagine the quality of medical care those poor wounded men could expect.

This is the Post Office and Courthouse. Originally, this would have been inside the mission boundary.

Another side entrance to the Post Office and Courthouse.

Not my hotel, but I like the entrance.

Including this for Joey. Side entrance to the Post Office and Courthouse.

Another side entrance to the Post Office and Courthouse.

I really like the look of this building. It’s being renovated, which is a good thing.

I love the reflections.

This is a side entrance to the Post Office and Courthouse.

I like fire escapes.

This is the construction entrance to the building being renovated.