San Antonio is the 2nd largest city in the state of Texas & is located in the south central part of Texas

Famous for Spanish missions, the Alamo, the River Walk, the Tower of the Americas & host to SeaWorld & Six Flags Fiesta Texas theme parks. San Antonio is home to the San Antonio Spurs & the annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.

Early Spanish settlement of San Antonio & the establishment of the San Antonio de Valero Mission (now the Alamo) was a way to reassert Spanish dominance over Texas from the nearby French in Louisiana.

San Antonio grew to become the largest Spanish settlement in Texas. When Antonio López de Santa Anna rescinded the Mexican Constitution of 1824 it lead to violence in many states of Mexico. In the spring of 1836 Santa Anna marched on San Antonio. A volunteer force under the command of William Barrett Travis & James Bowie were in charge of defending the old mission. The Battle of the Alamo took place from February 23 to March 6, 1836. The outnumbered Texian force was ultimately defeated & all of the Alamo defenders killed. "Remember the Alamo" became a rallying cry in the Texian Army's eventual success at defeating Santa Anna's army.

In 1845, the United States annexed Texas lead to the Mexican-American War. The U.S. won, the war but it was devastating to San Antonio with the population of the city had been reduced to only 800 inhabitants. By 1860, at the start of the Civil War, San Antonio had grown to a city of 15,000 people.

Following the Civil War, San Antonio prospered as a center of the cattle industry. In 1877, the first railroad reached San Antonio & began to enter the mainstream of American society. 

San Antonio is a popular tourist destination. The River Walk, which meanders through the downtown area. Lined with numerous shops, bars, & restaurants it is transformed into a festival of lights during Christmas & New Year. The Alamo, located nearby, is Texas' top tourist attraction.