Did You Know? A Letter from the Alamo Lives in Fredricksburg.
Standing in front of the Gillespie County Courthouse, dressed up for Christmas 2025, is a quiet but powerful reminder of Texas history: a plaque preserving a Letter from the Alamo.
This marker connects Fredericksburg and Gillespie County directly to one of the most defining moments in the story of Texas. While the Alamo itself stands hundreds of miles away in San Antonio, the words etched here bring that moment home—capturing the urgency, resolve, and sacrifice felt across the Republic of Texas in 1836.
Why This Letter Matters
During the siege of the Alamo, letters were sent beyond its walls to rally support, supplies, and reinforcements. These messages carried more than information—they carried a call to action that echoed across Texas settlements, including the German immigrant communities of the Hill Country.
The plaque at the courthouse preserves that connection, reminding visitors that the fight for Texas independence was not confined to one battlefield. It was shared by families, towns, and counties who understood what was at stake.
A Courthouse as a Keeper of Memory
For more than a century, the Gillespie County Courthouse has served as a center of civic life—justice, governance, and community gathering. By displaying this letter, the courthouse also serves as a keeper of memory, anchoring global history in a local place.
Next time you walk the courthouse square—especially under the lights of Christmas—pause at the plaque. You’re standing at the intersection of local pride and Texas legend.
