In a week marked by heated political debate and swift leadership changes, the Alamo—the iconic San Antonio landmark—has found itself at the center of a cultural and historical controversy that reaches far beyond its limestone walls. The sudden resignation of Kate Rogers, president and CEO of the Alamo Trust, has sparked a statewide conversation about the way Texas history is told, who gets to tell it, and the boundaries between education, politics, and public memory.
The saga began in mid-October 2025, when the Alamo’s social media account posted a message acknowledging Indigenous Peoples Day and previewing plans for a Native American gallery in the soon-to-be-expanded Alamo Visitor Center and Museum. The post, which was quickly deleted, drew sharp criticism from some conservative activists and Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, who declared, according to KSAT, that “woke has no place at the Alamo.” The online uproar set the stage for a much larger clash over the direction of the Alamo’s $550 million redevelopment, which is slated to include new galleries highlighting the site’s layered history from its mission-era beginnings through the legendary 1836 battle.
But the real flashpoint arrived when Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick publicly called for Rogers’ resignation on October 23, 2025. His demand was rooted in what he described as “troubling writings” found in the final pages of Rogers’ 2023 doctoral dissertation from the University of Southern California. In a letter to the Alamo Trust board, Patrick wrote, “These writings are incompatible with the telling of the history of the battle of the Alamo. I believe her judgment is now placed in serious question and makes clear she has a totally different view of how the history of the Alamo should be told.” He further asserted, “Of course the entire story of the Alamo will be told, but the overriding emphasis must be on the ‘13 Days of Glory,’ as nearly 200 men gave their lives to defend liberty and freedom for Texas.”
Rogers’ dissertation did not go unnoticed by other state leaders. It critiqued political efforts in Texas to ban Critical Race Theory, restrict voting rights, and limit reproductive rights, describing these as part of a “conservative agenda” in the state legislature. Rogers also referenced the controversial book “Forget the Alamo,” which challenges traditional narratives by exploring the role of slavery and mythmaking in the Texas Revolution. She wrote, “Philosophically, I do not believe it is the role of politicians to determine what professional educators can or should teach in the classroom. Instead, teachers should be afforded the autonomy to make those decisions based on their own expertise as well as the needs of their students.”
The fallout was immediate. Within 24 hours of Patrick’s letter, Rogers’ automatic email reply confirmed she was no longer with the Alamo Trust. While the nonprofit itself offered no public comment on her status, the resignation was widely interpreted as a direct result of political pressure. According to News 4 San Antonio, Rogers herself appeared conflicted about her departure, stating, “It became clear through recent events, it was time to move on.”
Reactions from San Antonio’s civic leaders were swift and pointed. Former Mayor Ron Nirenberg blasted Patrick’s demand as “political interference” and lauded Rogers’ steady leadership during a period of significant transformation for the Alamo. San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones called her resignation a “huge loss for the state,” while Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai labeled the episode “gross political interference.”
Amid the leadership vacuum, the Alamo Trust board acted quickly to stabilize the situation. On October 25, 2025, the board unanimously named former Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade as its new president and CEO, effective immediately. Andrade, a well-known advocate for San Antonio’s business community and co-founder of GO RIO San Antonio River Cruises, was described by board chair Welcome Wilson Jr. as “a steady hand, knows what needs to be done, and has the confidence of our benefactors, donors, and local and state leadership involved in the project.” Andrade will step down from her other voluntary roles to take charge of the Alamo Trust’s staff of more than 200 people, steering the organization through a period of intense scrutiny and high expectations.
The controversy over Rogers’ resignation is set against the backdrop of a sweeping, multi-year overhaul of the Alamo site, which is scheduled to transfer from the Texas General Land Office to a new Alamo Commission by 2028. Under state law, the commission—likely to be led by Patrick if he is re-elected—will be tasked with ensuring that “the entire history of the Alamo, from the time the Alamo was established as a mission until the present, should be recognized.” The law also mandates that the site must “honor the individuals whose lives were lost at the Alamo” and serve as “a symbol of liberty and freedom.”
This tension between honoring the traditional narrative of the “13 Days of Glory” and acknowledging the broader, more complex history of the site has been simmering for years. Republican leaders, as reported by the Texas Tribune, have pushed for the Alamo’s story to remain focused on the 1836 battle, warning against what they see as politicization or revisionism. Yet the redevelopment project’s new museum and visitor center are designed to showcase eight galleries that tell the Alamo’s story from its founding through the famous siege, incorporating perspectives that have often been marginalized in the past.
Supporters of Rogers argue that her approach reflected a modern understanding of history—one that values nuance, inclusivity, and the expertise of educators. Critics, however, see any deviation from the traditional heroic narrative as a threat to Texas identity and heritage. The debate has exposed deep divisions within the state about the role of historical memory, the influence of politics on public institutions, and the boundaries between education and advocacy.
As the dust settles, the Alamo’s future remains uncertain but undeniably consequential. The leadership transition to Hope Andrade comes at a critical moment, with the $550 million redevelopment project underway and the eyes of Texas—and the nation—fixed on how this storied landmark will navigate its next chapter. The choices made in the coming months will shape not only the visitor experience at the Alamo but also the broader conversation about who tells the story of Texas, and how.
The debate over the Alamo’s past and future is far from over, but one thing is clear: the battle for its legacy is as fiercely contested today as it was nearly two centuries ago.
