Interesting to read that the largest private collection of ‘the Alamo’ (a very American thing) historical artifacts and memorabilia was owned by a British man lliving in Switzerland– named Phil Collins. Yes, that Phil Collins, the 1980s pop star rock musician.

Collins recently donated his multi million dollar collection to San Antonio Texas so they could form a new Alamo museum. Even though the British citizen Collins flew in from his longtime home in Switzerland and has never lived in the US much less Texas, the Mayor of San Antonio labelled him “a true Texan.”

Collins said he’s been fascinated by the Alamo since watching Disney’s 1950s Davy Crockett television series as a young boy in London, and has been a longtime collector of Alamo items.

The Battle of the Alamo was an important battle in the Texas Revolution against Mexico and one of the most famous events in American history. All the American defenders of a San Antonia fort, including Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, were killed by the Mexican Army. ‘Remember the Alamo’ was a rallying cry for Texans and is still a well known phrase.

Collins’ collection of over 200 rarities, includes Jim Bowie’s personal knife, Davy Crockett’s gun and solders’ swords.

Initially gaining fame as singer and drummer for the rock band Genesis, Collins later had seven Number One hits on the US Billboard Top 100, sold over 150 million records and won seven Grammy Awards as a 1980s solo artist.