Texas is home to a number of old and purportedly haunted places. This makes sense to those who believe in the paranormal, given the state’s long and sometimes bloody history. One famous Texas landmark, in particular, is home to a number of ghost stories and eerie legends: the Alamo. Read on to discover the haunted side of this important piece of Texas history.
The Alamo, located in present-day downtown San Antonio, may not look terribly foreboding to passers-by. However, many visitors have reported having a very different feeling upon entering the Alamo’s historic grounds. Stories of apparitions, disembodied voices, and face-to-face spiritual encounters abound at this sacred location.
Photo: pixabay.com
The Alamo’s first recorded tale of the supernatural sort is the story of the “six diablos”, tracing back to mere weeks after the infamous 1836 battle. Legend has it that shortly after the Mexican army’s attack on the Alamo, General Juan Jose de Andrade was under orders from General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna to see to it that all of the Alamo’s buildings were completely destroyed. Andrade sent Colonel Jose Juan Sanchez and his men to the site to see that the orders were fulfilled.
Upon arriving at the location, the soldiers found the chapel standing, and approached the building with the intent to tear it down. The men had not yet laid their hands on the sacred walls when six spectral monks wielding flaming swords were said to have materialized in front of their eyes. The men retreated, describing to General Andrade the six diablos (devils) that had met them at the Alamo. Frustrated, Andrade returned to the site himself to destroy the remaining buildings. The General and his men were met by the same “six diablos”, and given a fiery warning to stay away from the buildings!
Photo: pixabay.com
Youthful spirits are also said to reside at the Alamo, with many visitors claiming to have seen a young boy’s face peering out of the high windows above the gift shop – windows without a landing, that are not accessible to the public. James L. Choron, a contributor at TexasEscapes.com, recounted his family’s eerie encounter with the spirit of a young boy as well:
In the summer of 1990, I took my children to see the Alamo. The kids enjoyed the tour, especially [my son] Erich and his oldest sister, Megan, who seemed to be totally spellbound by everything around her. As we were leaving the Alamo, Megan looked behind her and waved, then softly and very somberly said “goodbye Jamie” (she pronounced it “Hymie” as in Spanish), which is something that she had no way of knowing at the time. I looked around to see who she was waving to, thinking that she had met some new little friend on the tour, and to my surprise, no one was in sight. When I asked her who she was talking to, she said “Jamie, there he is, right there!” and she pointed to a spot directly in front of the Alamo’s doors. No one was there. I told her that I didn’t see anyone, that he must have gone back inside. Then, she said, “No. There he is,” and pointed. I still didn’t see anyone. She then described him to me: a Mexican boy, about fifteen or sixteen years old, wearing cotton pants, a white cotton shirt, sandals and a tall black hat. She said that he had stood beside her the whole time we were in the Alamo, and told her about the battle. “He said that he was there. He said that he’s been here an awfully long time and can’t go home. He was sad, but he was glad that he found me to talk to.
Photo: pixabay.com
Choron is not the only visitor to have experienced the paranormal side of the Alamo. Since the late 1800’s, there have been numerous reports of ghostly shapes and shadows seen on the grounds of the Alamo. The site briefly served as a prison in the late 1800s, and many prisoners, as well as officers, reported ghostly sightings. Additionally, park rangers and unassuming tourists have often reported seeing figures materializing from the walls of the buildings, as well as sensing the presence of soldiers and hearing the sounds of battle, ghastly screams, and haunting whispers. Among the most popular ghost sightings at the Alamo, are actor John Wayne and Davy Crockett himself.
Regardless of your beliefs in the paranormal, the Alamo certainly has its share of historical energy. Whether to learn more about the battle itself, take in the beauty of the mission and its grounds, or in the hopes of seeing something a bit more spooky, the Alamo is always worth a visit! Visit thealamo.org for more information.
