For Texans, the Battle of the Alamo became an enduring symbol of their heroic resistance to oppression and their struggle for independence, which they won later that year. The Alamo was the scene of a pivotal battle in the fight for the independence of Texas from Mexico. In the early 1800s, Texas belonged to Mexico. During the Texas war for independence from Mexico, Spanish troops occupied the abandoned building, now used as a fortress, calling it Alamo. In 1836, Col. William B. Travis, James Bowie, Davy Crockett, and almost 200 other Texan volunteers occupied the Alamo. After unsuccessfully defending the Alamo for 13 days against an army of thousands of Mexican soldiers led by General Antonio López de Santa Anna, the Texans died on March 6, 1836.

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The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word opened the Chapel of the Incarnate Word in 1907, just 38 years after arriving in San Antonio from their native France. Designed in the Romanesque style by architect F.B. Gaenslen and under the planning supervision of Reverend J.G. Badnarek of Chicago, the chapel resembles a cathedral in its massing and scale. The imposing tower is guarded by trumpeting angels at each corner, and other statuary and symbols depict the four Evangelists. Large stained glass windows flank the outer walls, with a rosette window in the choir. The elaborate chapel interior features marble columns with gilded capitals, an embossed metal ceiling, oak choir stalls, and a 19th century pipe organ.

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The San Fernando Cathedral is located in downtown San Antonio, near the river walk. This cathedral was established in 1731 by the Canary/Spanish Islanders, who sought to build their own place of worship. It is also known as the Church of Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria y Guadalupe, the oldest cathedral in the United States. Still functions as a Catholic cathedral holding mass, sacraments, confession, baptisms, weddings and more. It holds a memorial and tomb of heroes of the Alamo. It is open to the public for viewing.

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