The Daughters of the Republic of Texas have managed the Alamo since 1905.

The DRT were officially founded in November 1891. The inspiration for the organization came from two young women, Betty Ballinger and Hally Bryan. Cousins, they had spent the summer at the Ballinger home in Galveston reading from Mr. Ballinger's library. Of particular interest to them was The History of Texas by Henderson Yoakum. Miss Bryan's father, Guy M. Bryan, was a charter member of the Texas Veterans Association, an organization started in 1873 and comprised of men who had taken part in the establishment and defense of the Republic of Texas.

Talk turned to creating an organization for women who were descendants of Texas pioneers in order to honor and preserve the memories of their ancestors. On November 6, a group met at the Houston home of Mrs. Andrew Briscoe to implement the plan. The name selected for the new group, Daughters of the Lone Star Republic, was officially changed to the Daughters of the Republic of Texas in April 1892 at the association's first annual meeting. Mrs. Anson Jones, the widow of the last president of the Republic of Texas, was the first president of the DRT.

The purpose of the organization is stated in its Bylaws. Specific goals are as follows:

To perpetuate the memory and spirit of the men and women who achieved and maintained the independence of Texas. To encourage historical research into the earliest records of Texas, especially those relating to the Revolution of 1835 and the events which followed; to foster the preservation of documents and relics; and to encourage the publication of records of individual service of the soldiers and patriots of the Republic and other source material for the history of Texas. To promote the celebration of March 2 (Independence Day), and April 21 (San Jacinto Day); to secure and hallow historic spots by erecting monuments thereon; and to cherish and preserve the Unity of Texas, as achieved and established by the fathers and mothers of the Texas Revolution.

DRT receives no monetary help from local, state or federal government and depends solely upon money from sales in the Alamo Gift Museum, donations from individuals and private foundation grants to fund its educational programming and general operation.

Of interest, San Antonio was the scene of a major display of barbed wire (also called bob wire) in the Military Plaza in San Antonio by John "Bet a Million" Gates, proved beyond a doubt barbed wire was durable and successful in controlling livestock. With his expertise in salesmanship, he eventually became the largest stockholder in American Steel & Wire Company and a legend in barbed wire history. His demonstration involved herding cattle into a makeshift corral of wire and showing how well it worked. The outcome was a major series of purchases by ranchers and the start of barbed wire as the most common form of fencing for large-scale farms and ranches.

Remember the Alamo 1836

Introduction
Siege and Battle of the Alamo Feb. 23-March 6, 1836
Battle of San Jacinto 21 April, 1836
Alamo Myths and Misconceptions
Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT)