As a child growing up in Florida when I heard someone mention the state of Texas, which was often because I had an aunt residing in East Texas, The Alamo would pop into my head every time. It’s safe to say that the rest of the country associates The Alamo as the face of Texas and a historical cornerstone of the state and what a bloody cornerstone it is. I’m ashamed to say that I’ve never visited The Alamo, but it is definitely on my super Texas road trip bucket list.
Architecturally beautiful and saturated in history, The Alamo was erected during the 18th century by Roman Catholic Missionaries as a mission for the local Native American Indians. By the early part of the following century, the magnificent mission meant to bring peace and learning erupted in a gory blood bath during the siege of the Battle of the Alamo.
The Battle of the Alamo went on for 13 deathly grueling days between February 26 – March 6, 1836, the Texians were massively outnumbered by the vast draconian Mexican army led by principle insurgent, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. General Lopez was noted to be fierce and without mercy and slaughtered most of the Texians and claimed The Alamo. Winning the Alamo was a great victory for the Mexican army. Texians, however, did when back The Alamo during the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836. Countless lives were brutally lost during both battles.
Days after the victory, General Lopez sent his men to destroy The Alamo out of fear of the spread of disease from the mass amount of corpses that covered the entire grounds and mission. The general’s men returned with the job not done shaking with fear claiming that six terrifying apparitions met them with flaming swords that were protecting the mission. The happening, called the Six Diablos, is the first known occurrence of a paranormal phenomenon happening within The Alamo.
Today the Alamo is known as the most haunted spot in San Antonio, Texas. Visitors report hearing screams, calls for help, death moans of the dying. Many ghostly sightings have also been reported. The children’s playground, a known sight of a Mexican soldier burial ground, is said to be so haunted that it is not suitable for children. Witnesses claim that sinister apparitions appear at all times of the day. A book store near The Alamo is said to stay at a freezing temperature and that books will fly off the shelves at random times terrifying shoppers.
Another sound reported by visitors is the eerie trumpet of the El Deguello, a type of bugle used by the Mexican Army buglers. The trumpet of the El Deguello must have been a blood-curdling harp of doom for the Texians before the start of the 13-day siege when most lost their lives.
Many types of ghosts have been reported, including the unknown ghostly pair of a father and his young toddler. More famous ghosts such as Mexican General Manuel Fernandez de Castrillon and even good old Davy Crockett, who had volunteered to protect the mission, have been seen.
The Alamo was threatened to be destroyed a second time near the end of the 19th century. An article was placed in the local San Antonio newspaper, calling for the demolishment of the mission. Still, as soon as the report was released, ghostly sightings increased, preventing The Alamo from being destroyed. Ghosts have intervened at least twice to save the Alamo.
Paranormal investigations at The Alamo are forbidden; perhaps some insight from a thorough investigation would give some idea on the multiple hauntings in and around The Alamo. The bloody history and the violent mass deaths live on through The Alamo’s ghostly inhabitants. Remember the Alamo!!
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