George Nelson's new Alamo Bronze Model

[neferetus]

The newly emplaced relief model of the Alamo by George Nelson. I'll try to locate a photo of the old one, for comparison purposes.

[neferetus]

Here's the opposite view of George Nelson's new
bronze relief model of the Alamo, looking west.

[neferetus]

Here's my photo of the model that was there in 1986 Well. I'm hanged if I can see much difference.

[seguin]

Wow - that´s just beautiful! Where can you see it? At the Alamo? And who´s George Nelson and why did he make a new bronze relief? I can´t tell the difference either...

[neferetus]

According to Rich Curilla, over on thealamosite, this is the old
bronze model on Alamo Plaza. The new one is supposed to be
sitting on a wooden platform, near the Low barrack flowerbed.

George Nelson is the author and artist of THE ALAMO: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY. His paintings adorn the windows of the Long Barrack, while copies of his paintings of the Alamo over the years are seen on the WALL OF HISTORY, over by the Alamo Giftshop, parallel to it's west wall.

Nelson made the newer bronze relief model to reflect all of the latest Alamo research. Even in the passage of twenty years, our views of the Alamo compound have changed drastically.

Now, if only someone will post photos of Nelson's NEW model.

[seguin]

Thanks, Nef! It´s very exiting that the views of the compound have changed due to research. That´s a subject I´ll have to look into. I wonder what the major changes are.
I think Nelson´s relief is awesome. I would´nt mind owning a copy. He could sell a lot if he produced them in a smaller size, I think. I´m looking forward to see a photo of his new relief. It will be interesting to compare them.
I would like to see the Alamo one day. It´s not exactly around the corner from here but on the other hand it´s within reach...

[Greg C.]

I saw that model while I was down there. It was very detailed.

[neferetus]

seguin said:

I would like to see the Alamo one day. It´s not exactly around the corner from here but on the other hand it´s within reach...

I just now noticed your place of abode, seguin. Copenhagen is also the home of fellow Alamo buff, Kaj Andersen. You two should really get together to chew the fat.


In the TV movie, THE ALAMO, 13 Days To
Glory, Danish Alamo defender Charles Zanco is
heard to say from his cannon perch atop the chapel,
"Don't worry Colonel, she won't let you
down!"

During the Sesquicentennial celebrations, Danish
Alamo buff Kaj Andersen portrayed Zanco, both
on Alamo Plaza and in the Brackettville reenactments.
A staunch student of the Alamo since his father took
him to see LAST COMMAND in 1955, Kaj's
interest expanded to model-making, research and
a novel on the life of Charles Zanco.

According to Kaj's research, Charles Zanco
was supposed to have designed one of the very
first Texian flags, a white star upon a blue field,
with the word INDEPENDENCE beneath the star.
Kaj made and brought such a flag to San Antonio
in 1986 and flew it over both the real Alamo and
the Waynamo, in Brackettville.



During the Travis Draws The Line reenactment,
Kaj, as Zanco made the decision to cross
Jack Edmondson's line in the dirt by saying, "I
have come all the way from Denmark, I can go this
much further." As Zanco, Kaj fell at the barricade
in front of the Waynamo chapel.

A good friend of both the Shahans and their
long suffering secretary, BJ Burns, Kaj and his wife
Ruth have made numerous trips to the Alamo
Village and the Shahan Ranch. "One day, I'm going
to have to get him to say, in his best
Danish accent, "Don't worry Colonel, she won't let
you down!"


Kaj (Charles Zanco) Andersen defends the Alamo chapel


Kaj, on Alamo Plaza, March 6, 1986. (That's me, overlapping into
the photo.)

Kaj "Zanco" Andersen, resting against the Long Barrack

Kaj and his wife Ruth, with Ray Esparza and his son. (Ray is a descendant
of Gregorio Esparza.)

Kaj, with Dave Lyons of San Antonio,
in Mike Water's backyard.

[neferetus]

Kaj Andersen of Denmark's remarkable Alamo model is a sort of compromise between the real Alamo and the Waynamo. Constructed in 1973, Kaj has wisely opted to not update the model in accordance with the most recent Alamo compound research. It stands in its own place and time.

Kaj worked amazing detail into his H o scale model.

[seguin]

Wow - I did´nt know that a dane fought at the Alamo! And he fell at the barricade. Does that mean he fought alongside Crockett and his Tenneseeans? I´ll see if I can find something about Charles Zanco on the web. Great photo´s, thanks Nef! I´ve created an Alamo picture file on my computer and downloaded all your photo´s of Kaj´s model along with other Alamo diorama´s and of course pictures of the Alamo and everything related to the Alamo.
Yes, I would very much like to meet Kaj! I hope he still has his Alamo model. If you could hook us up, that would be great...

[seguin]

I found a short bio of Zanco on the web. An ordinary immigrant story - except for his participation in the Alamo battle, of course. Born in Randers, Denmark 1808 - died at the Alamo 1836, 28 years old. That´s quite a short life but at least he died fighting for liberty. And to become a hero and a part of history, that´s really something...

[Greg C.]

Here's a better one:

Alamo Defender and Texas flag designer. He and his father emigrated to America in 1834. They settled in Harris County, Texas as farmers and he was also a painter by trade. In the fall of 1835 he joined the first volunteers at Lynchburg for service in the Texas Revolution and designed the company's blue flag, which featured a painted lone star and the controversial legend, "Independence." He was first person ever to paint a Lone Star on a Texan flag. He took part in the siege of Bexar as a member of the Texan artillery, was promoted to Lieutenant and served as an assistant to the ordnance chief. On February 23, 1836, he entered the Alamo at the approach of the Mexican Army and died in the battle of the Alamo. (bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith)

[seguin]

Thanks for the Zanco bio, Davy! So he did not only fight at the Alamo but also were the first to paint the lone star on a Texan flag. I wonder if the lone star was his idea too? That would really be interesting if a dane created the lone star! After Nef and you told me about Zanco, I feel a little bit more connected to the Alamo story. It´s nice to know that a fellow countryman took part in the liberation of Texas...

[neferetus]

At last, here's George Nelson's new Alamo bronze relief, in
Alamo Plaza, near the Low Barrack flowerbed.

[neferetus]

The bronze is located on the south end of the Long Barrack, just next to the Gary Zaboly marker. Its base is made of unvarnished wood and looks quite temporary. I wonder why?

[neferetus]

I spoke with Alamo Ranger, Danny Martinez recently and he said that a more permanent base was being constructed for the model. Hopefully it will be in place when visitors from around the country and around the world converge on Alamo Plaza once more in March, 2008.