Phil Collins’s Beloved Alamo Memorabilia Collection Set to Make Its Debut

In 2014, celebrated drummer and pop singer Phil Collins agreed to donate his collection of Alamo and Texana artifacts to the Texas General Land Office, the agency responsible for the Alamo's care, with the condition that a museum be built to display them. Now, nearly ten years later, that vision is about to come to life: starting March 2, Collins’s cherished Alamo artifacts will be showcased at the newly established Alamo Collections Center, where they will remain until the Alamo Visitor Center and Museum is completed in 2026.

It’s well-known that Collins has been a devoted Alamo enthusiast since childhood, a passion ignited by the Disney miniseries Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier (1955). Over time, this childhood interest transformed into a full-blown obsession; with over 150 million albums sold and numerous chart-topping hits, he has gathered over 400 items related to the Alamo. His collection features a rifle once owned by Davy Crockett, a bronze cannon utilized by the Mexican Army, and battle orders penned by General Antonio López de Santa Anna. “It might seem odd that something so American could resonate with a young boy so far away,” Collins noted in his 2012 book The Alamo and Beyond: A Collector’s Journey. “The story of the Alamo has always stayed with me, and there's no escaping it.”

The Alamo Collections Center is currently hosting the Phil Collins Collection, but this is only a temporary arrangement. In 2026, these artifacts will be relocated to the upcoming Alamo Visitor Center and Museum, a four-story facility spanning 100,000 square feet that is still under construction. For now, visitors can view 50 of Collins’s items along with other exhibits, including the Donald and Louise Yena Spanish Colonial Collection, which showcases pieces from the Spanish Colonial era. This two-story mini-museum will be open from March 2 to April 25. Both new structures are part of the Alamo Plan, a $388 million initiative designed to enhance and preserve the Alamo Plaza. The Phil Collins Collection was originally intended for the Alamo Visitor Center and Museum, but due to construction delays, it will debut at the Collections Center first. Once the museum opens, the collections center will focus solely on temporary exhibitions.

Despite its allure, the Phil Collins Collection has sparked some debate. Some items in Collins’s collection have questionable provenance. Among them is a knife that is said to have belonged to Jim Bowie, which was “authenticated” by a psychic. The Alamo is committed to providing accurate historical information about one of Texas’s most notorious battles, while also highlighting the deep fascination and enthusiasm surrounding this event since 1836.

“Our goal is to share the authentic narrative of a collector's journey,” stated Ernesto Rodriguez, the Alamo’s senior curator, in an interview with ArtNews in January 2023.

The Alamo Collections Center is situated behind the Alamo Church. Tickets for entry can be acquired at the church or online, beginning at $7 per person. To celebrate Texas Independence Day, admission will be free on March 2.