Alamo's Long Barrack getting facelift

A roof replacement project at the oldest building at The Alamo will begin soon.

The Long Barrack, located just northwest of the Alamo sanctuary, and the only building on the complex which hosts a museum, will be closed starting Monday, Aug. 18. Work is expected to continue through mid-October. Construction will not affect any other buildings or the complex. The Alamo church, the Shrine of Texas Liberty, will continue to be open year-round.

“This project is part of our ongoing effort to maintain these hallowed grounds out of respect for those who made history here,” said Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, who oversees the Alamo.

The current exhibit in the Long Barrack, “The Alamo: A Story Bigger Than Texas,” will resume once the Long Barrack reopens to the public. A few of the items will go on temporary display in the Shrine but the majority will be in secure storage until the roof replacement project is complete. A fence and scaffolding will surround the Long Barrack through the duration of the re-roofing project.

Over the years, moisture has slowly collected underneath the Long Barrack roof which, if left unaddressed, could jeopardize its structural integrity. The new roof will make for a safer environment for artifacts and will preserve the building for generations. And visitors may expect a renovated theater in the Long Barrack, sponsored by the History Channel, along with a new Alamo history film.

The Texas General Land Office (GLO), as the official steward of the Alamo, is leading the project. Architecture firm, Volz O’Connell Hutson, which specializes in historic buildings, is working with builders from Turner Construction under the oversight of the GLO and Alamo staff. The project meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and has been permitted by the Texas Historical Commission.