Putting his intense fascination with the Alamo to good use, singer Phil Collins has donated part of his personal collection of Alamo artifacts to a museum dedicated to the famous battle. Collins handed over on Tuesday, October 28, some of what is considered to be the world’s largest private collection of Alamo artifacts to the state of Texas, which will later be housed in a $100 million museum called the Phil Alamo Collins Collection.

“When I got older and became successful, I decided to spend my money on original items from the Alamo rather than on Ferraris. This completes the journey for me… These artifacts are coming home,” Collins said at a news conference held across the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas.

ICYMI: Phil Collins donated his incredible Alamo artifact collection to Texas. http://t.co/2bWJR8DBFA (Photo: WOAI) pic.twitter.com/ezNNAGC523

— NBC DFW (@NBCDFW) October 29, 2014

Collins reportedly became obsessed with this part of American history when he was a child in London and watched the 1955 film Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier. In an earlier press conference for the museum in June, Collins explained his fascination with the Alamo. “I’ve had a love affair with this place since I was about five years old. It was something that I used to go and play in the garden with my soldiers,” he said.

Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson accepted the donation and announced that a measure will be introduced in January to Texas legislature to make Collins an “Honorary Texan”.

He’s been waiting for this moment for all his life.@imkevinquinn talks 2 singer @PhilCollinsFeed re @Alamo collection pic.twitter.com/MsmfAt8DzA

— Melanie Lawson (@MelanieLawson13) October 28, 2014

“Texans are deeply indebted to Phil Collins,” Patterson said. “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.”

The collection that Collins donated includes a fringed pouch owned by Davy Crockett, as well as one of the last guns in existence previously owned by the famous Texan. It also includes a Bowie knife owned by the legendary James Bowie and letters from garrison commander William B. Travis.