Alamo Cenotaph Monument
San Antonio, Texas
The “Spirit of Sacrifice”, also known as the Alamo Cenotaph, was designed by Italian sculptor Pompeo Coppini and constructed in 1937 to commemorate those who fought and died at the Battle of the Alamo in 1836. The monument, prominently located in Alamo Plaza, is constructed of Georgia Marble and sits on a Texas Pink Granite base. After 85 years, stone spalling, open masonry joints and visible displacement of stone units prompted a thorough investigation of the Cenotaph’s structural integrity to inform its eventual complete restoration.
Architexas was hired by the Alamo Trust, City of San Antonio, and General Land Office to complete the first phase work. The monument was completely scaffolded to provide access to each exterior stone unit for assessment. Stones at the top of the monument were temporarily removed to expose masonry ties and the combination concrete and brick structure that supports the marble. An opening was cut in the concrete roof slab to permit the design team to physically enter the monument and observe the interior conditions, including the original roof drainage system. Restoration work commenced in the spring of 2024.
The site is also a registered Texas State Antiquities Landmark, and the design team has worked with the Texas Historical Commission and the City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation to obtain the required SAL permit and Certificate of Appropriateness.
