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Early Republic

Alamo Cenotaph

San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

Marker Inscription

In memory of the heroes who sacrificed their lives at the Alamo, March 6, 1836, in the defense of Texas. "They chose never to surrender nor retreat; these brave hearts with flag still proudly waving, perished in the flames of immortality that their high sacrifice might lead to the founding of this Texas."

Erected by Texas Historical Commission

The Story

This soaring cenotaph honors the defenders who died at the Alamo on March 6, 1836, in the fight for Texas independence. Rather than marking a grave, it stands as an empty tomb, a symbol raised so that the sacrifice made in that mission-turned-fortress would not be forgotten. Its inscription casts the fallen as men who chose neither surrender nor retreat.

Why it matters

The Alamo is the defining emblem of the Texas Revolution, and its cenotaph anchors one of the most enduring rallying cries in American memory.

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  • · Battle of the Alamo

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Alamo Low Barracks and Main Gateway

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