On July 23, the iconic 16-pound cannon from the Battle of the Alamo was put on display outside the Long Barrack. Not only that, it is mounted on a hand-made 1800's-style carriage that resembles the one that would have been used during the battle in 1836.
16-Pound Alamo Battle Cannon on Display Now With Handmade 1800’s-Style Carriage
July 23, 2019
“This is one of the Alamo guns that was used during the Battle of the Alamo in 1836,” Alamo Associate Curator Ernesto Rodriguez said. “It was disabled and buried by the Mexican Army after the battle. Years later, it was discovered by the Maverick Family and later given to the Alamo,” Rodriguez added.
The carriage is seven feet wide with wheels 66 inches tall. It weighs nearly 1,600 pounds, which is appropriate considering the cannon itself weighs 2,240 pounds!
The carriage designer, Michael Elledge, has made over 100 cannon carriages. The 16-pounder marked the first time his team had to create a custom trunnion collar, since the Mexican Army cut off the original collar after the battle in 1836.
“In order to securely mount the 16-pounder to the carraige, a trunnion collar had to be made,” Alamo Conservator Pam Rosser said. “The original trunnion was cut off because the Mexican Army wanted it decommissioned. Michael Elledge created the collar with hollowed out trunnions, and lined it with a rubber membrane to separate the two metals,” Rosser added.
But why is it blue?
“Based on old Spanish manuals from the time, we know that the carriage would have originally been painted cobalt blue,” Ernesto Rodriguez said. “By the time of the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, the color would fade to a sky blue, so that’s why we chose this color.”
The 16-pounder and its new carriage are now on display outside the Long Barrack, in front of the iconic Alamo Church. Make sure to see the 16-pounder, and the rest of our battle cannons, during your next visit to the Alamo.
