UTSA Institute of Texas Cultures
The Alamo circa 1890. With the exception of the chapel, the Alamo was under private ownership until the Daughters of the Republic of Texas was able to secure the property for the state in 1905. Since then the DRT has been the caretakers and managers for the San Antonio shrine.
The Daughters of the Republic Of Texas (DRT) will no longer be involved in the day-to-day management of the Alamo, putting an end to the organization's nearly 110-year long role as caretakers for the historic landmark. The Texas General Land Office terminated the DRT contract yesterday and announced the DRT will be ousted on July 10, a little over a year before their current contract term was set to expire.
Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush notified DRT President General Ellen McCaffrey of the contract termination in a letter that outlined 10 contractual breaches as a basis for the cancellation. A nationwide search will be conducted to identify a company to take over management of the San Antonio landmark, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
“The Alamo has always had the same owner – the people of Texas," said Bush in a joint statement with the DRT. "And so to meet the ever-increasing operational needs of the Alamo, the GLO has determined to change its day-to-day management from the DRT and move in a new direction."
"While we regret our changing role in its daily management, it does not diminish our unending passion for the preservation of the Shrine of Texas Liberty, and we look forward to maintaining our library collection as a historical resource for all Texans to enjoy,” McCaffrey said in the joint statement, the entirety of which you can read below.
Custodianship of the Alamo was given to the DRT in 1905 after members handed over ownership of the Alamo Long Barracks to the state after they had purchased it from a private owner. But between 2009 and 2011, the groups management came under fire, leading to a state attorney general investigation and the state legislature reassigning Alamo custodianship to General Land Office. Since 2011, the DRT has contracted with the GLO to manage the site's daily operations, a contract Bush claims the DRT has breached.
This week the GLO also announced formation of the Alamo Endowment board, which will raise funds to build a facility to house Phil Collin's extensive collection of Alamo artifacts and memorabilia.
Contract Termination Letter by MarkAReagan
George P. Bush and DRT Joint Statement by MarkAReagan
