The Texas General Land Office is working on a master plan with hopes to preserve and protect one of the state’s most treasured landmarks.

On Monday, those advocates spoke at a Wichita County Republican Women’s meeting about their efforts to preserve the Alamo, taking measures to make sure the land is a respectful and dignified visualization of Texas history. They’re looking to get Wichita Falls residents and other Texans to get behind on the project.

As someone familiar with historic preservation in Wichita County, Delores Culley says she’s been concerned about future plans for the Alamo.

“It is a state Texas landmark and so you want to make sure that what they do is done correctly and there is a right way and a wrong way for preservation,” Culley said.

For years, Culley has worked with the Wichita County Heritage Society to make the Kell House a place for many to identify the rich history of Wichita Falls.

“The biggest thing that we have found with the Kell House is that it’s about the structure but it’s all about the story,” Culley said. “It’s the story and with the Alamo, it’s that story.”

Bryan Preston is the communications director for the Texas General Land Office working to preserve the battlefield in San Antonio.
    
“Currently the city manages the battlefield. The state balances the Alamo itself. Once you reunify them, then you can create a better visitor experience. So the Alamo would be poised to tell its story bigger and better than before,” Preston said.

Part of the master plan includes preserving and protecting the two century old structures, delineate where the battlefield was held, even building a museum for the landmark.

“Alamo Plaza is the 1836 battlefield,” Preston said. “It is also the mission footprint from the period before 1836 but if you walk around it now you see distractions.”

Preston says the Alamo currently has a commercial atmosphere and believes it alienates visitors from understanding why the Alamo stands today.

“The building needs to be there and the preservation of that building is so important. You just can’t have the story without the building,” Culley said.

Preston says they estimate the project costing up to $450 million, currently made up of state funds and efforts from the city of San Antonio. The bulk of the cost would come from private donations.