The Alamo: Collecting the Most Famous Siege in American History

In 1835, the citizens of Mexican Texas rebelled against Santa Anna’s new centralist government. Initially winning a string of small victories, by early 1836, the Texans were facing the full might of the Mexican Army. Santa Anna, the leader of the new Mexican government, marched north to suppress the rebellion. He saw the rebels (many of them recent immigrants from the United States) as “pirates” and ordered his men to take no prisoners and show no mercy to the wounded.

William B. Travis, Jim Bowie, and the famous Tennessee frontiersman Davy Crockett found themselves holed up in a former Spanish mission station in San Antonio called The Alamo. From February 23 to March 6, 1836, these commanders and their men withstood a siege while outnumbered at least ten to one. During the final storm, all the defending men were killed, along with a significantly greater number of Mexican troops.

Santa Anna had achieved a victory of sorts—he had taken the Alamo and secured an invasion route for his army. But, the invading Mexicans suffered a decisive defeat in the later Battle of San Jacinto. Texan soldiers had been inspired by the events of the siege to such an extent that, in a ferocious charge, they routed Santa Anna’s professional army in just fifteen minutes. Texan independence was secured, allowing it to join the United States eventually.

Historical Collectibles

Perhaps no weapon is more associated with The Alamo and the history of the Texas Revolution as the legendary Bowie knife. Supposedly created by Jim Bowie’s brother Rezin, the intimidating design lies somewhere between a very large knife and a small sword. Jim wielded the blade in the famous “Sandbar” fight before moving to Texas.

While the fate of the original Bowie knife carried by Jim at the Alamo is uncertain, Rezin made various presentation knives before and after 1836. One from 1835 was presented to the famous Shakespearean actor Edwin Forrest. It sold for $36,000 in 2017, and its value has increased since.

While Mexican weapons will not sell for nearly as much as Texan ones, a beautifully crafted dagger captured at the Battle of San Jacinto by a 1st Regiment Texas Volunteers soldier reached $18,000 in 2018.

Autographed letters from the men involved in the siege will always generate interest and command high prices. One moving letter signed by Alamo commander William Travis just weeks before his death requesting payment for supplies as he prepared to depart San Felipe for the Alamo went for over $30,000 some years ago.

A small slip of paper with Sam Houston’s autograph recently went for $1400. Houston was not present at the siege but commanded the Texans at San Jacinto. As such, while valuable, his autograph will rarely fetch as high a price as one of the defenders.

Of all the defenders, Davy Crockett continues to attract the most attention from collectors. An extremely rare handwritten note from Crockett to his book publishers, written in 1834, commanded $40,000 at auction in 2017.

Alamo Films and TV

John Wayne brought the story of the Alamo to life in 1960 with The Alamo. Though it may have played around with history and was charged with the politics of the time, The Duke still managed to create a sweeping, old-style Hollywood picture.

Wayne wanted to play Sam Houston but was persuaded to take the leading role of Davy Crockett. The film also had memorable performances by Richard Widmark as Bowie and English actor Laurence Harvey as Travis. An original, linen-lined movie theatre poster for the epic fetched over $1500 in December 2024.

Disney brought the exploits of Davy Crockett to a whole generation of American and British schoolchildren in the 1950s with their TV and film productions. Fess Parker took on the leading role. The flintlock Kentucky rifle used by Parker in the TV show went for close to $40,000 in 2018. Again, this is another item that will increase in value over time.

One of the most famous Disney-licensed products marketed to American children during the late 1950s was the Davy Crockett lunchbox produced by Adco Liberty. A battered example full of rust still made $399.99 at auction in 2025. Toy company Marx also produced a Davy Crockett cap firing Flintlock rifle. Even the later “Daniel Boone” version from the 1960s usually fetches around $500 without a box.

Alamo Figures

Marx made the most collectible model soldiers depicting the Alamo for the Walt Disney Davy Crockett TV series. A set in good condition (complete with a “shell shooting” cannon) went for close to $3,000 in 2021.

Imex makes more affordable 1:72 scale figures still on plastic sprues. Separate boxes are available for Mexican infantry, cavalry, and Texan defenders.

Twenty-eight-millimeter figures are also popular in the role-playing board game community and are the go-to scale for more experienced model soldier collectors. UK-based company Sarissa produces an Alamo building set complete with ramparts, though it is more expensive. Metal 28mm figures are the most highly prized. The Artizan Designs Heroes of the Alamo set includes all the famous figures present at the battle modeled in fine detail. As ever with model figures, a pre-painted set will command far higher prices.

Remember the Alamo!

Though it is some way off, it is worth considering purchasing Alamo collectibles before the 200th anniversary arrives in 2036. As with other key military anniversaries, prices are likely to skyrocket.

Whether you are interested in Alamo films, memorabilia, or actual period items, there is still a wealth of options, and everyone with all budgets can find something Alamo-related to treasure.

Matthew Doherty is a writer, editor, and teacher specializing in all things history-related. His work has been published in the UK Defence Journal, the Small Wars Journal, and The Collector. He holds an MSc from the University of Edinburgh and a BA from the University of Leeds. In his spare time, he also writes science fiction stories.

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