Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D., joined local officials in San Antonio on Wednesday for the topping-out ceremony of the future Alamo Visitor Center and Museum, where crews placed the final structural beam atop the building.
The state-of-the-art facility will span nearly 160,000 square feet and offer visitors a world-class experience exploring the full 300-year history of the Alamo. It is scheduled to open in spring 2028 across from the historic Alamo Church and will include a 4D theater, a cafe, and event spaces, with special emphasis on the 1836 battle.
Buckingham, who has been a leading advocate for the project, called the milestone a key step in preserving the site’s legacy.
“This marks an exciting milestone in preserving and sharing the story of our beloved Alamo. The new Alamo Visitor Center and Museum will ensure that the full 300-year history of this sacred site — from its earliest days as a mission to the heroic stand in 1836, and how it continues to influence Texan culture today — can be experienced by future generations,” Buckingham said.
“It is a tremendous honor to help protect the Shrine of Texas Liberty, so every visitor understands the courage, sacrifice, and spirit that shaped the Lone Star State. The Alamo is where Texas’s story changed forever, and this world-class museum will ensure that story continues to inspire the world for centuries to come.”
The new visitor center and museum will be joined by the Texas Cavaliers Education Center, which broke ground in 2023 and is set to open later this year. The education center will serve as a formal learning space for schoolchildren, featuring a welcome theater, breakout classrooms, and hands-on activities both indoors and on the outdoor grounds.
Buckingham helped secure a historic $400 million allocation for the broader Alamo Plan in June 2023. The funding, included in the state budget signed by Gov. Greg Abbott and championed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, supports construction of the Alamo Plaza, the Alamo Church, and the Cenotaph.