The most iconic historic place in America may also be the most
misunderstood.
For more than 170 years, the true nature and appearance of the
Alamo, the cradle of Texas liberty, has eluded historians and artists
alike. Partially demolished soon after the famous battle, the
mission/fortress's appearance grew more and more indistinct. Even
more recently, Hollywood has itself compounded the problem by
redesigning the place to suit the artistic purposes of the dramatic
script.
But the truth was lurking all along, in old sketches, plats, diagrams,
and later archeological digs. Now for the first time, all of the
available sources have been meticulously consulted and brought
together to create the most accurate illustrated book on the true
appearance of the Alamo in 1836 ever produced.
The reader is taken through the entire compound, inside and out,
room to room, and shown areas never before depicted. For clarity, the
compound is divided into sectors, each chapter covering a sector,
which is then explored in detail. Through extremely realistic photo-
illustrations, as well as dramatic original artwork with explanatory
text, the author breathes new life into the 1836 Alamo, and makes it
real.
Scholars, students, artists, and readers of history all will find this a
fascinating journey back in time.
_________________________________________________________
MARK LEMON is an accomplished artist, specializing in Civil War-
era themes. He lives in Acworth, Georgia, with his family.
What people are saying about this book
"Many visitors to the Alamo know only its iconic postcard image. Those
who realize there was more to the old mission compound are surprised
to find that so much has been lost over time. Alamo aficionados long for
resurrection. Mark Lemon has produced something for all of them—the
curious and the serious. The Illustrated Alamo 1836: A Photographic
Journey is a must for anyone who wishes to visualize the Alamo as it
appeared at the time of the battle."—Richard Bruce Winders, Historian
and Curator of The Alamo
"Mark Lemon's work enters the realm of landmark Alamo studies, utilizing
a new approach, and new data, in his attempt to depict the appearance of
the fort in 1836. Barring a time machine or a crystal ball, our knowledge of
the Alamo's architecture will forever remain a work-in-progress, but Mark's
book sets us ahead a few paces in several important areas."—Gary S.
Zaboly, Illustrated of Blood of Noble Men: The Alamo Siege and Battle, an
Illustrated Chronology
"Other books tell readers what the Alamo was about; this one transports
them to a lost time and place."—Stephen L. Hardin, author of Texian Iliad
and Texian Macabre
"The Illustrated Alamo 1836: A Photographic Journey is replete with
remarkable photo-illustrations and paintings that bring to life America's
most famous mission-fortress. Mark Lemon has done more than just
provide readers with breathtaking and uncanny views of the Alamo; he has
illuminated the Shire of Texas Liberty with remarkable skill."—William R.
Chemerka, Founder of The Alamo Society and Editor of The Alamo Journal
"Combining the artist's imagination with a scholar's attention to detail,
Alamo enthusiast Mark Lemon has produced the single most comprehensive
volume on the Alamo as it was at the time of its rendezvous with history.
The Illustrated Alamo 1836 will bring hours of pleasure to anyone wishing
to gain an understanding of how a dilapidated Spanish mission became the
stage for the most famous event in Texas history."—Jesus Francisco de la
Teja, State Historian of Texas
Other Books on the Alamo
