The Alamo began as the Spanish mission San Antonio de Valero , founded in 1718, and the iconic stone church and main complex most people think of as “the Alamo” were largely built around 1744.

Quick Scoop: Key Facts

  • Original founding of the mission: 1718, by Spanish Catholic missionaries in what is now San Antonio, Texas.
  • Main chapel and compound construction (the recognizable Alamo structure): generally dated to about 1744.
  • Later role: converted over time into a military post and fortress, famous for the 1836 Battle of the Alamo in the Texas Revolution.

So if you’re answering “when was the Alamo built,” the concise, commonly accepted answer is: the mission site was founded in 1718, and the well‑known Alamo chapel was built around 1744.

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