---
title: San Fernando Cathedral, 2009: San Antonio, Texas
author: Daniel Schwen
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21050/san-fernando-cathedral-2009/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
updated: 2025-09-25
---

# San Fernando Cathedral, 2009: San Antonio, Texas

_Authored by Daniel Schwen_

## Image File

[![San Fernando Cathedral, 2009: San Antonio, Texas](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/21050.jpeg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/21050.jpeg)

## Image Caption

San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio, photograph by Daniel Schwen, 2009.

The original parish church, later enlarged in the Gothic style as depicted here, played a notable role in the story of the [Battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) of the [Alamo](https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2805/the-alamo/) in 1836 during the [Texas Revolution](https://www.worldhistory.org/Texas_Revolution/). Defenders of the Alamo used the heights of the church to scout for the advance of Mexican forces under Santa Anna, who himself later used the building to hoist a blood-red flag signaling no quarter for the defenders. A sarcophagus in the cathedral claims to hold the remains of the Texian garrison, including those of [William Barret Travis](https://www.worldhistory.org/William_Barret_Travis/), [Jim Bowie](https://www.worldhistory.org/James_Bowie/), and [Davy Crockett](https://www.worldhistory.org/David_Crockett/).

## Cite This Work

### APA
Schwen, D. (2025, September 25). San Fernando Cathedral, 2009: San Antonio, Texas. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21050/san-fernando-cathedral-2009/>
### Chicago
Schwen, Daniel. "San Fernando Cathedral, 2009: San Antonio, Texas." *World History Encyclopedia*, September 25, 2025. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21050/san-fernando-cathedral-2009/>.
### MLA
Schwen, Daniel. "San Fernando Cathedral, 2009: San Antonio, Texas." *World History Encyclopedia*, 25 Sep 2025, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21050/san-fernando-cathedral-2009/>.

## License & Copyright

[Original image](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:San_Fernando_Cathedral.jpg) by [**Daniel Schwen**](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:San_Fernando_Cathedral.jpg). Submitted by [Joshua J. Mark](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/JPryst/ "User Page: Joshua J. Mark"), published on 25 September 2025. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon a work even for commercial reasons, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.