SAN ANTONIO — For the past two decades, San Antonio native Ernesto Rodriguez III has been sharing his passion with more than 1.6 million visitors annually and now he has a few more talking points.
“If you don’t understand where you’ve been, you don’t understand where you’re going,” Rodriguez said. “This story at the Alamo is one that is bigger than Texas and one that touches every aspect of our lives.”
In the past, only around 1% of the total artifacts discovered from the Alamo could be displayed. However, thanks in part to contributions from supporters such as musician Phil Collins and Donald and Louise Yena, more than 500 items are now available for public viewing.
“The story of the Alamo is a human narrative. It’s a story of people from the starting of a mission in 1718 through present day.”
As a proud Mexican American, Rodriguez says the two-story, 24,000-square-foot addition will share important narratives about life on both sides of the border and further conversations on topics such as slavery and the First Amendment.
“One of those really exciting structures because this is the first time the Alamo has a building meant to house a collection,” Rodriguez said.
Director of Communications and Community Outreach Jonathan Huhn, explained this is just the beginning of a massive Alamo Plan, set to be completed by 2026.
“We’re not done yet. There’s over $400 million project for the entire Alamo complex to really recapture the entire footprint and museum so they can enjoy these 300 years like never before,” Huhn said.
It’s a new chapter in a story well-chronicled in the Lone Star State.
“The events that happened 187 years ago still matter, and are still being fought for,” Rodriguez said. “As people stroll this exhibit, I hope they will get a glimpse of these collections, but also understand this is a small piece of a larger buffet still to come.”
