Our Texas History Museum
Ranger Artifacts
Our Texas History Museum
"I am Houston" Signature
Our Texas History Museum
Davy Crockett Signature
We live in a state with a wonderfully unique history. I have loved the story of Texas since I was a child, and my passion for telling Texas history as it actually occurred has grown with each passing year. This is why we have built a stunning collection of rare Texana historical documents and artifacts in our restaurant, why I give history tours for fourth graders almost every school day, and why we invite you to the restaurant for my Saturday morning history talks. Texas is an incredible place, a land rich in heritage and opportunity for everyone. I hope you'll come visit and fall in love all over again with our unique State.
Enjoy! -Nina Hendee
Texas Artifacts Guide
Alamo Chapel Doors
A TREASURED ADDITION
In September of 2022, Nina received a phone call that would change the Taste of Texas Museum Collection forever.
The Interior Sacristy Doors of the Alamo Chapel had been in a private collection since 1954 and were coming available for bid. These doors had been sold by the Alamo to a private collector and had been displayed in Texas for almost 7 decades. The collectors were liquidating their extensive holdings. Nina contacted the auction house and began to inform them of the 15,000 school tours for Texas 4th graders each year, and the 1000+ people daily who come to Taste of Texas Restaurant. Those numbers piqued the interest of the collectors whose primary desire was that the doors would remain in Texas and be highly visible in their display to educate young people about the courage and valor of our founding fathers in Texas.
On December 16th, we were informed that we had won the bid! Oh Happy Day! We took delivery of the doors and began planning their display. On March 6, 2023 on the 187th Anniversary of the battle of the Alamo, the doors went on permanent display in the lobby of the Taste of Texas, and have been causing quite a stir since then!
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The Spanish Government built the Alamo which was known as Mission Valero in 1717. The doors of the Interior Sacristy of the church were built in 1750. On March 6, 1836 the battle of the Alamo inscribed the names of those 189 Texian defenders into our history forever: Crockett, Travis, Bowie, and Dickinson became household names for all who have toured the Alamo and revered it’s history.
It was behind those doors that Susannah Dickinson hid with her 18 month old daughter Angelina in her arms listening to the shouting, rifle & cannon shots of this brave battle. Her husband Almaron Dickinson was just a few feet away directing the cannon on the rampart wall of the church. In the early moments of the battle, Almaron ran to Susannah and said, “All is lost, and I hope that you should live.” Colonel David Crocket just before the battle came to pray with Susannah and re-dedicated his life to the Lord Jesus Christ, and then returned to his position.
Oh, if these doors could only talk and tell of the stories of that day. But they can! Susannah recounted her experiences and they are recorded for history forever. Now these doors bear witness to the bravery, struggle, and sacrifice that makes our Texas so unique. They are sentinels to our Texas Heritage.
Favorite Eyewitness Accounts
TEXAS TRIVIA
