Dr. Bruce Winders, Curator of the Alamo — An Introduction
For generations the word Alamo meant mainly the epic 1836 battle. Both in 1883 and 1905, the Texas Legislature designated the Alamo a memorial to the garrison that died here that March morning, a role that most Texans — and Americans — want to see continued. Using 1836 as a starting point, though, modern historians and researchers have begun to venture away from the famous siege. Questions about the need to defend the Alamo highlight the importance of San Antonio de Béxar and its Spanish mission origins. Interest in the role of women and slaves has arisen. Interpretation of the Alamo and the Texas Revolution has begun even to link Texas to Mexican and European history. In addition to its past, preservation efforts are analyzing the sites current state as well as laying the ground work for its future. The result is that future generation will have additional reasons to remember the Alamo.
About Dr. Bruce Winders
Dr. Bruce Winders earned his doctorate at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas in 1994. He came to the Alamo in 1996 to fill the newly created position of Historian & Curator. A recognized authority on the conflicts involving United States, Mexico, and Texas, Winders is the author of a number of books and articles on the topic, including Mr. Polk’s Army: The American Military Experience in the Mexican War (1997), Crisis in the Southwest: The United States, Mexico, and the Struggle over Texas (2002), Sacrificed at the Alamo: Tragedy and Triumph in the Texas Revolution (2004), and Panting for Glory: The Mississippi Rifles in the Mexican War (2016). A former classroom teacher and public historian, Winders maintains a keen interest in education and educators. Those who know him can readily attest to his passion and skill as an educator of students of all ages.
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