More than just another pretty church, San Fernando's role in the Battle of the Alamo makes it an important local landmark. In happier times, future Alamo hero James Bowie was married here. But as Bowie defended the Alamo just across the river, Mexican general Santa Anna took over the church as an observation post and raised a flag of 'no quarter' that began the deadly siege – 'no quarter' meaning 'take no prisoners.'
In 1936 some remains were uncovered and, since they included charred bones and fragments of uniforms, they were wildly purported to be those of Davy Crockett, William Travis and James Bowie. (Never mind that the Alamo defenders didn't wear uniforms.) Pay your respects to whoever they are at the marble casket at the left entrance to the church.
