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For generations of Texans, the Alamo has been closely tied to one defining moment: the 1836 battle that became a rallying point for the Texas Revolution. A new exhibit opening in San Antonio this September will ask visitors to look further back — to a chapter of the Alamo’s history connected to the American Revolution decades earlier.

“Sons of ’76: The Alamo in the Age of Revolutions” opens Sept. 4, 2026, at the Ralston Family Collections Center, bringing together rare artifacts and historical interpretation to explore connections among Spanish Texas, the American Revolution and the Texas Revolution. The exhibit coincides with both America 250, marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and Alamo 190, commemorating 190 years since the Battle of the Alamo. 

For San Antonio families, Texas history enthusiasts and visitors looking for things to do at the Alamo, the exhibit offers a chance to see the familiar landmark through a broader lens — beginning with its years as Mission San Antonio de Valero.

How the Alamo Connects to the American Revolution

Long before the famous 1836 siege, the Alamo was part of Spain’s mission system in Texas. Mission San Antonio de Valero was founded in 1718, and its holdings included agricultural operations and livestock ranches that supported mission life. 

That livestock became part of a much larger international story during the American Revolution.

Spain formally entered the war against Great Britain in 1779. Spanish Governor Bernardo de Gálvez led campaigns against British forces along the Mississippi River and Gulf Coast, and Texas helped supply those efforts with cattle. According to the Texas State Historical Association, roughly 10,000 cattle from ranches belonging to residents and missions in the Béxar and La Bahía areas were gathered between 1779 and 1782 to help provision Spanish forces. 

Rancho de la Mora, a ranch associated with Mission San Antonio de Valero, provided cattle for those wartime supply efforts, creating a direct connection between the mission that would later become known as the Alamo and the wider struggle surrounding American independence. 

That lesser-known history is one of the central stories visitors will encounter in “Sons of ’76.”

“This exhibit tells a chapter of San Antonio's story that should be more widely known,” Alamo Trust, Inc., President and CEO Secretary Hope Andrade said. “Guests will learn why Spain got involved in the American Revolution, using cattle from Mission San Antonio de Valero, now known as the Alamo, to fuel the movement. From there, they'll trace the story from one revolution to another, and learn why those who fought in the Texas Revolution truly considered themselves the 'Sons of '76.'”

Rare Artifacts Help Tell the Story Across Generations

The new Alamo exhibit will use artifacts to connect the different eras rather than relying solely on written timelines.

Visitors can expect to see pieces tied to early Texas life, including ranching objects from the Spanish mission period as well as weapons carried by soldiers. Together, the collection traces the Alamo’s evolution from a Spanish mission community to a site associated with revolution, military conflict and the expanding United States.

The exhibit also examines how ideas of independence carried from one generation to another and how participants in the Texas Revolution looked back to the American Revolution for inspiration. The Alamo describes the exhibition as exploring why one independence movement influenced another and the role Texas later played in the westward expansion of the United States. 

The timing adds another layer to the exhibition. America250 commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, with programs and events continuing throughout the anniversary year. 

The Alamo Mission Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas helped sponsor the exhibit.

Alamo Trust Oversees a Landmark Visited by More Than 1.6 Million People Each Year

The exhibition is being presented as part of a broader effort by Alamo Trust, Inc. to preserve the historic site while expanding the way its more than 300 years of history are interpreted for the public.

Alamo Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization responsible for daily operations at the Alamo and implementation of the Alamo Plan, the long-term effort focused on preservation, interpretation and improvements across the historic site and surrounding plaza. Its stated mission is to preserve the Shrine of Texas Liberty while bringing its history to life for visitors. 

That work reaches a sizable audience. According to Alamo Trust, more than 1.6 million people visit the Alamo annually, making it the most-visited destination in Texas. The site was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1960 and became part of the San Antonio Missions UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015. 

The Ralston Family Collections Center has also become an increasingly important part of that visitor experience. The two-story, 24,000-square-foot facility includes about 10,000 square feet of gallery space and houses hundreds of artifacts connected to the Alamo and Spanish Colonial history. 

“Sons of ’76” will be located on the second floor in the Laurie Shields Ralston Gallery.

When and Where to See “Sons of ’76” at the Alamo

“Sons of ’76: The Alamo in the Age of Revolutions” will run from Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, through Wednesday, March 31, 2027, at the Ralston Family Collections Center, 300 Alamo Plaza in downtown San Antonio.

The exhibit is scheduled to be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry at 4 p.m. Admission is included with an Alamo Exhibit ticket as well as qualifying Alamo tour experiences. Current listed admission is $14 for adults, $10 for children 12 and younger, $12 for military members and adults 65 and older, and $9 for children 12 and younger in military families. Friends of the Alamo members receive free admission. 

Tickets may be purchased through the Alamo or at Alamo Welcome Center locations at the Menger Hotel and Paseo del Alamo.

Friends of the Alamo Member Night Set for Sept. 8

Friends of the Alamo members will also have an opportunity to explore the exhibition during a private Member Night from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8.

The after-hours event will include access to the exhibit and an opportunity to meet members of the curatorial team behind it. Admission is free for Friends of the Alamo members, although reservations are required and space is limited. 

For visitors accustomed to thinking of the Alamo primarily through the 13-day siege of 1836, “Sons of ’76” offers a reminder that the landmark’s story stretches across centuries — through Indigenous communities, Spanish mission life, ranching, international conflict, revolution and the development of modern Texas.

That broader history may be especially fitting during a year when both Texas and the nation are looking back at the events that shaped their identities.

Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more San Antonio events, Texas history stories and family-friendly destinations across the region.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.