State Sen. Dawn Buckingham wins bid to manage the Alamo, disaster relief funds and more as Texasโ next land commissioner
The land commissioner manages public land, enforces mineral rights leases, controls the Texas Permanent School Fund, distributes natural disaster relief funding and is responsible for the Alamo.
State museum canceled book event examining slaveryโs role in Battle of the Alamo after Texas GOP leaders complained, authors say
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick confirmed on Twitter that he called for the event to be canceled. Abbott, Patrick and other GOP leaders are board members of the State Preservation Board, which oversees the Bullock museum.
Singer Phil Collinsโ Alamo artifacts collection on display
(AP) โ Artifacts collected by Phil Collins went on display Tuesday at the Alamo after the legendary musician donated the items to the state of Texas. The โPhil Collins Collection Previewโ includes a brass cannon used by the Mexican Army during the Battle of the Alamo and the original battle orders that called for the attack on the Alamo. Collins donated his collection of more than 200 artifacts to the Texas General Land Office in 2014. Alamo visitors see Phil Collins collection for the first time in honor of Texas Independence DayโWe are beyond excited to finally share some of the amazing artifacts Mr. Collins so generously donated,โ said Kristi Miller Nichols, the Alamo's director of archaeology, collections, and historical research at the Alamo. โThe public has been very interested in seeing the Collins Collection.
Historical panel votes to keep Cenotaph in Alamo Plaza
AUSTIN, Texas โ A state historical review panel voted overwhelmingly Tuesday against relocating a monument to the 200 Alamo defenders killed by the Mexican army in 1836. The Texas Historical Commission voted on Tuesday 12-2 to reject a proposal by the city of San Antonio to repair and relocate the Alamo Cenotaph that has stood since 1939 in Alamo Plaza. Planners of a $450 million Alamo renovation project had wanted to move it about 500 feet to the south. Dan Patrick spoke out forcefully against the proposal, saying it would โerase history.โThe 58-foot-tall marble slab has been a focal feature of Alamo Plaza in downtown San Antonio since 1939. The Alamo Defender Descendants Association is fighting to keep the Cenotaph within the area once surrounded by the Alamoโs walls.
Everything is bigger in Texas, except for the worldโs smallest Catholic church
With many fascinating landmarks and destinations, one would never imagine Texas is home to one of the worldโs smallest churches. Located at 3490 South Highway 237, youโll find the St. Martin Catholic Church, an 18 x 14 feet structure that is credited as the worldโs smallest active worship Catholic church. Well at least, thatโs what the sign next to the parish states: โHistorical Worlds Smallest Active Worship Catholic Church St. The parish contains some of the original fixtures including the altar and tabernacle and statues from the original church. Although the size of the church has a limited occupancy, thousands of visitors visit the church and cemetery each year.
8 quirky Texas museums you probably didnโt know existed
โI grew up watching The Munsters and loved the flow of the Munster house,โ Sandra says. โWe didnโt think anyone would care about the house,โ Sandra explains. The Turnpike Toy Museum, BoerneOpened this month by husband-and-wife team Steven and Cheryl Leary, the Turnpike Toy Museum specializes in diecast, 1/64th-scale toy cars. The cars are drawn from Stevenโs 21,000-plus toy collection. โAfter we visited the Worldโs Largest Toy Museum in Branson, Missouri, a few years ago, I turned to Steven and said, โWe could do this,โโ Cheryl says.