A significant historical discovery has confirmed the exact quarry that provided the limestone used to build the Alamo, solving a long-standing mystery about the origins of one of America’s most iconic landmarks.
The news was first reto exclusively on Good Morning America during a special live segment from the Alamo’s annual Dawn Ceremony, marking the 189th anniversary of the Battle of the Alamo.
During excavation for San Antonio Zoo’s new gorilla habitat Congo Falls and The Ralston (event center), large amounts of limestone were unearthed, prompting further investigation. Through extensive geological testing and historical research conducted by Highbridge Materials Consulting, Inc., experts have now verified that the quarry—located on the far west side of the Zoo—was a primary source of stone used in the 1700s to build the Alamo Church and other historic structures in San Antonio.
“This discovery deepens our understanding of the Alamo’s origins and reinforces the strong historic ties between our city’s landmarks,” said Dr. Kate Rogers, Executive Director of the Alamo Trust, Inc. “For the first time, we can say with confidence that this quarry, now part of the San Antonio Zoo, supplied the materials that built one of the most recognized historical sites in the United States.”
Originally established in 1718, Mission San Antonio de Valero, later known as the Alamo, was relocated its current site in 1724. It was constructed using locally sourced limestone. Confirming this quarry’s location provides an unprecedented link to the materials that shaped San Antonio’s historic built environment.
“The San Antonio Zoo, which has been a part of our community for over a century, is honored to play a role in uncovering this important piece of Texas and world history,” said Tim Morrow, President and CEO of the San Antonio Zoo. “This is an incredible example of how history continues to reveal itself, even in the middle of progress. Limestone from this location helped shaped San Antonio and Texas.”
To verify the connection, Highbridge Materials Consulting, Inc. conducted a comprehensive geological and material analysis. Their team compared limestone samples from the Alamo’s structure to the layers excavated at the Zoo site, confirming that the geological composition matches the materials used in the origivealed nal construction of the Alamo Church.
This revelation comes at a pivotal moment, as the Alamo undergoes a $550 million redevelopment set for completion in 2027. The project includes a state-ofthe- art Visitor Center & Museum, which will tell the full 300-year history of the Alamo and showcase new research like this discovery.
“This finding further strengthens our commitment to ensuring that the Alamo’s 300-year story is told with historical accuracy and depth,” added Dr. Rogers.
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