Alamo Historical Society Membership Levels and Associated Benefits

The Alamo Historical Society Board of Directors has worked to clarify the benefits of membership in AHS and to describe the different levels of membership available to people who want to join and support the organization. Funds raised by these membership dues, along with registration fees charged to attend AHS events, are used to maintain the operations of the Society including publication and printing of The Alamo Dispatch; renting event space and equipment; printing and other costs associated with staging the annual AHS events in San Antonio; and other operational costs such as maintaining the website. The Board strives to keep fees and dues as low as possible, recognizing that operational costs have risen for AHS just like everyone else. The membership levels and benefits are explained below. And now, embers can engage in “one stop shopping” by clicking on the Events tab and registering to participate in Society events. All Society events require advance registration.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

Alamo Dispatch

All members of the Alamo  Historical Society will receive digital copies of the organization’s esteemed publication, The Alamo Dispatch, three times per year. “Sustaining members”  also receive three full-color printed issues mailed to the member’s address. (See Sustaining Membership Levels.)

AHS Events

A nominal registration fee is charged to members to attend the following events. Non-members pay a higher fee. Advance registration is required for all events even if the event is free admission for certain Sustaining members.

  •   Fandango — The Alamo Historical Society sponsors a social event during the commemoration week, providing  members an opportunity to meet, renew friendships, and celebrate in San Antonio-style festivities. The 2024 and 2025 events were free to members, with donations encouraged to defray expenses. Beginning in 2026, a nominal fee will be charged to offset the food, beverage, and entertainment costs of this event.

  • Alamo Symposium — The Alamo Historical Society presents an annual Symposium in San Antonio, continuing a tradition begun in 1986 by Alamo Society founder Bill Chermerka. The Symposium brings top-tier speakers, authors, and programs to the members who attend the Symposium. The Symposium is a one-day event usually held on the weekend nearest March 6 during Alamo commemoration week. Members with Alamo-related books, memorabilia, or other Alamo-related products may reserve a vendor table at the Symposium at no cost.

  • Field Trip — During the Alamo commemoration events, the Alamo Historical Society typically schedules a field trip to sites associated with the Texas Revolution and its context. Past field trips have included visits to Presidio La Bahia; Gonzales; San Antonio Missions; and other sites. Any field trip requires a minimum number of registered participants. If the minimum number is not reached, the field trip will be canceled. The trips are usually narrated by a historian / subject matter expert. Field trip cost includes bus fare, snacks, and site-entry fees, if any. Members have priority over non-members when registering for the field trip.

Membership Levels

The Alamo Historical Society has six levels of membership:

  Basic Member: $30.00 per year — Members may attend AHS events at the established admission fee; receive a digital copy of The Alamo Dispatch three times per year.

Sustaining Membership Levels

Members who join at the following Sustaining Membership levels have the option of paying an annual fee or paying the fee in automatic monthly installments. Sustaining memberships will be automatically renewed at the end of that 12-month cycle unless 1) members cancel their membership or 2) their credit card expires or changes.

  •   Alamo Defender: $90.00 per year or $7.50 per month — Members receive the digital Alamo Dispatch plus a printed issue of the Dispatch mailed three times per year, and are listed in each issue of the Dispatch on the Sustaining Member page.

  •   Seguin Cavalry: $120.00 per year or $10.00 per month — Members receive all the benefits of Alamo Defender level plus free admission to the Fandango.

  •  Crockett Tennessean: $180.00 per year or $15.00 per month — Members receive all the benefits of Sequin Cavalry level plus free admission to the Symposium.

  •   Bowie Volunteer: $300.00 per year or $25.00 per month — Members receive all the benefits of Crockett Tennessean level plus a second free admission to both the Fandango and the Symposium.

  •   Travis Commandancy: $300.00 per year or $75.00 per month — Members receive all the benefits of Bowie Volunteer level plus a dinner with Alamo Historical Society Board members during commemoration week, and participation in the wreath-laying tribute during the Dawn Ceremony.

NOTE: Membership benefits may be transferred to other parties, with a note-of-transfer presented to the recipient party at an AHS event.

These membership levels and benefits are visually depicted in the following chart:

We hope these membership levels provide options for people to support the AHS at the level most suited to them, and clarify the membership structure. Contact any Board member if you have any questions.