The Second Siege
In 1908 a woman locked herself in a condemned building, and the Alamo owes her its oldest walls.
Listen to this place’s story in Peplos.
How the story begins
Adina De Zavala got into the Long Barrack by talking to the caretaker. It was February 1908. She was the granddaughter of the Republic of Texas's first vice-president. She brought three guards, and once inside she locked the doors. The building was about to come down. Clara Driscoll, the rancher's daughter who had paid for the property, believed it dated from after the 1836 battle and saw no reason to keep it.
The rest is in the app. Peplos plays the full story when you reach the place. You can also listen ahead of time.
Visiting
Alamo Plaza, San Antonio. Entry to the Long Barrack was free with no timed ticket as of February 2026. The church next door needs a free reservation at thealamo.org. Construction continues around the site, so check hours and access before you go.
Photos
Sources
- The story of the Alamo's second siege, Texas Public Radio, 2016
- De Zavala, Adina Emilia, Handbook of Texas
- Adina de Zavala, Texas Historical Commission Atlas
- Long Barrack, The Alamo
- The Woman Who Made Sure We Remembered the Alamo, National Trust for Historic Preservation
- Texas Standard commentary on De Zavala and Driscoll, KUT, 2024
- Visitors to the Alamo can step inside for free, KSAT, 2026
- The Alamo: beginning of a new era, The Alamo
This text was written by AI from open sources. Found a mistake? Write to us. Support
