Battle of the Alamo gradually became known as a battle site rather than a former mission. The Texas Legislature purchased the land and buildings in the early part of the 20th century and designated the Alamo chapel as an official Texas State Shrine. The Alamo has been the subject of numerous non-fiction works beginning in 1843. Most Americans, however, are more familiar with the myths and legends spread by many of the movie and television adaptations, including the 1950s Disney mini-series "Davy Crockett" and John Wayne's 1960 film "The Alamo". Under President Antonio López de Santa Anna, the Mexican government began to shift away
Battle of the Alamo survivors of the battle. The first full-length, non-fiction book covering the battle, John Myers Myers' "The Alamo", was published in 1948. In the decades since, the battle has featured prominently in many non-fiction works. According to Todish "et al.", "there can be little doubt that most Americans have probably formed many of their opinions on what occurred at the Alamo not from books, but from the various movies made about the battle." The first film version of the battle appeared in 1911, when Gaston Méliès directed "The Immortal Alamo". The battle became more widely known after it was featured in