Generosity Beyond Compare

Singer Phil Collins speaking at the Alamo
Credit: Texas General Land Office
Phil Collin at his press conference when he donated his private collection to the Texas General Land Office in 2014.

British rock star Phil Collins has penned numerous #1 and Top Ten hits on the record charts.

The former drummer and front-man for Genesis, the award-winning solo singer who has sold more than 150 million albums, and the author of the Tarzan movie soundtrack may become best known for something beyond his glittering music career.

In the summer of 2014, Collins generously donated his priceless collection of Alamo and Texana artifacts to the Texas General Land Office, guardian of the Alamo on behalf of the people of Texas.

Collins built the collection over several decades, purchasing some items and even discovering some others just steps away from the Alamo itself.

Collins fell in love with the Alamo’s inspiring story as a 5-year-old boy, when he saw the Disney production of Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier. When other children were out playing cops and robbers or other childhood games, Collins says that he was re-enacting the Battle of the Alamo.

That love soon became his “passion” – collecting Alamo artifacts, weapons, relics and original documents.

Phil Collins’ amazing collection includes hundreds of items. As part of the restoration of the Alamo, work has begun to create a museum for these artifacts allowing us to tell the Alamo’s entire story, bigger and better than ever before. His collection is now on display at the Alamo Exhibit in the Ralston Family Collections Center at the Alamo.

Read about Phil Collins donation in the San Antonio Express