h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

When they made the movie, The Alamo, they were faced with the problem that yes, the Alamo is right downtown. It makes sense if you think about it -- at the time of the battle, the Alamo WAS the town. This remains however the most frequent tourist question: why is it right downtown like that?

Hollywood being Hollywood and Texas mythology being what it is, this setting was deemed inappropriate for filming, and they built a replica of the Alamo in Brackettville, approximately 120 miles to the west.

The terrain there is quite flat and grassy, unlike the hills and scrub in San Antonio, which sits right where South Texas meets the Hill Country. But hey. John Wayne was nothing if not a cowboy, and cowboys gotta have a big sky. Thus the image of the Alamo as a lonely outpost, further fueling this important part of Texas legend.

By the way, John Wayne's performance in the movie is outstanding, and your can tour the replica Alamo if the urge should strike you. It is still standing...it was the biggest thing ever to happen in Brackettville. Word of warning for tourists: If you come back via the main road (Highway 90) you will go through a Border Patrol checkpoint and thus may need identification. Especially if you don't look American.