Phil Collins clearly wants people to remember The Alamo. The British pop singer was in San Antonio today to donate his esteemed Collins Collection to the Gallagher House in Texas. His assemblage is widely regarded as the largest and best collection of Alamo artifacts ever put together.
The former Genesis drummer-singer jokingly said that he spent all the money he earned during his lucrative music career on artifacts from the 1836 battle. The historical event ultimately served as a turning point in the Texas Revolution.
The Collins Collection was made popular in the singer’s 2012 book called, The Alamo and Beyond: A Collector’s Journey. Collins fascination with The Alamo began when he was just a kid growing up in London. He would watch Davy Crockett on television and then act out frontier battle scenes with his toy soldiers. His favorite scene to act out was The Battle of the Alamo. After receiving a saddle signed by an Alamo defender, Collins passion for collecting Alamo artifacts was ignited.
British rocker Phil Collins brings extensive memorabilia collection home to the Alamo http://t.co/Tb42nqFER3 pic.twitter.com/JzZyjgS1vd
— Dallas Morning News (@dallasnews) October 28, 2014
Phil Collins packing up David Crockett's musket ball pouch, for delivery at the Alamo Tuesday. #alamo pic.twitter.com/zVZCfEmxDS
— Jim Suydam (@Jim_Suydam) October 27, 2014
The Collins Collection features several interesting pieces of history: Jim Bowie’s famous knife, historical documents, a rifle and leather pouch owned by Davy Crockett. Texas Land Commissioner and chairman of the Alamo Endowment, Jerry Patterson, said of the collection, “Texans are deeply indebted to Phil Collins. He is giving us back our heritage. Now these Texas treasures need a home where all can see them and study from them and learn about how Texans won our liberty.”
Patterson is hoping that a new Alamo historical center will eventually open to house The Collins Collection.