Today, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas are entrusted with the preservation of the Alamo. Photos are not permitted inside the main building of the Alamo. Visitors are asked to respect the sacredness of the place and show appropriate respect for those who died there so many years ago.

The original building didn't have a roof, but that has been added, with as much architectural integrity as possible. Today, it houses a number of exhibits that require protection from the elements. Other surviving missions have a similar architecture.

Once outside the main building, photographs are permitted. Today, the grounds of the Alamo are meticulously maintained. It is, I suppose, one of the compromises we make - a welcoming view that helps us spend some time and understand some of the history of the place. We visited on Saturday, and there were various presentations and reenactments of life in the 1830's.

What remains are portions of the original walls, as shown to the left. In addition to the walls, inside the arches, are some small rooms used as bedrooms and as a medical facility.

All factors considered, the Alamo is a "must see" in San Antonio and while it is very well maintained, if you want to get a more intimate experience, take the Mission Trail to see some of the other missions of the area.