Alamo Cannon Restored at Texas A&M Lab Ahead of 190th Anniversary

The 90-pound cannon from the 1836 Battle of the Alamo has been undergoing conservation treatment at Texas A&M University's Conservation Research Laboratory.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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A cannon used in the 1836 Battle of the Alamo has been acquired by the historic mission and is undergoing restoration at Texas A&M University's Conservation Research Laboratory. The cannon, which was lost for decades after being used as a birdbath base at a San Antonio ranch, is one of 23 cannons from the battle and the 11th in the Alamo's possession. The lab is using an electrolysis bath and other conservation techniques to stabilize the metal and prepare the cannon for display at the Alamo Visitor Center and Museum, which is set to open in 2028.

Why it matters

The rediscovery and restoration of this Alamo cannon is significant as it represents a tangible connection to the events of the 1836 battle that have become legendary in Texas history. Preserving these physical artifacts helps bring the Alamo's story to life and allows visitors to more directly engage with the history.

The details

The cannon, originally a swivel gun used in the 1836 Battle of the Alamo, was discovered in 1852 in the yard of former San Antonio Mayor Samuel Maverick. It was then used as the base of a birdbath at the Maverick family's ranch for decades before its location was unknown for many years. A Corpus Christi man related to the Maverick family recently contacted the Alamo, leading to the cannon's rediscovery and acquisition by the historic site last month.

  • The cannon was discovered in 1852 in the yard of former San Antonio Mayor Samuel Maverick.
  • The cannon was used as the base of a birdbath at the Maverick family's ranch for decades.
  • The cannon's location was unknown for many years after its removal in 1955.
  • The cannon was recently rediscovered and acquired by the Alamo last month.
  • The Alamo Visitor Center and Museum where the cannon will be displayed is set to open in spring 2028.

The players

The Alamo Trust

The nonprofit organization that manages the Alamo historic site.

Kolby Lanham

The Alamo's senior researcher and historian who helped confirm the cannon's provenance.

Texas A&M University's Conservation Research Laboratory

The lab that is restoring the cannon using techniques like an electrolysis bath to stabilize the metal.

Dr. Christopher Dostal

The director of the Texas A&M Conservation Research Laboratory overseeing the cannon's restoration.

Samuel Maverick

The former San Antonio mayor whose yard the cannon was discovered in back in 1852.

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What they’re saying

“We all know the story of the Alamo, but the actual physical objects that the players of that story used make it real to us. We think it's very important to preserve that material and to have it stable and tangible and able to be connected with for many, many generations past ours. So that's why we're doing this.”

— Dr. Christopher Dostal, Director, Texas A&M Conservation Research Laboratory (Texas A&M University)

“It was just one of those moments that you're looking at an artifact that had been gone and out of our possession for a very long time, and to be able to see and touch that again was just unreal. You can't really put it in words.”

— Kolby Lanham, Senior Researcher and Historian, The Alamo (The Alamo's "Stories Bigger Than Texas" podcast)

What’s next

The cannon will continue undergoing conservation treatment at the Texas A&M lab over the next several months before being prepared for display at the new Alamo Visitor Center and Museum, which is scheduled to open in spring 2028.

The takeaway

The rediscovery and restoration of this Alamo cannon is a powerful reminder of the enduring legacy of the 1836 battle and the importance of preserving the physical artifacts that connect us to that pivotal moment in Texas history. The cannon's journey from a backyard birdbath to a centerpiece of the Alamo's new museum underscores the museum's mission to bring the Alamo's story to life for future generations.