Confronting the Public

Dealing with the public is a double edged sword. At times, it can be very rewarding and other times it can be very frustrating and draining. At the Alamo, there is a long standing tradition that requires gentlemen to remove their hats upon entering the old Alamo Church, now called the Shrine. The Shrine is a place to honor the Alamo defenders who fought and died there on March 6, 1836, in the Battle of the Alamo. Over 200 defenders met their fate at the hands of Santa Anna’s overwhelming Mexican Army. But now this time honored tradition of men removing hats as a sign of respect is being questioned.


It is never fun confronting Alamo visitors about the rules on food, drink and photography, but it can get even more contentious when some men feel just as strongly about keeping their hats on. I’ve had men turn around and leave rather than remove their hats. Some men become irate and ask us why women are not required to remove their hats as well. Still others refuse outright or say nothing until we force the issue, often ending in bad feelings, vocal confrontations and sometimes expulsion.

To avoid a bad experience for our visitors, there is a growing feeling that we should ask once and then refrain from enforcing this time honored rule in the Shrine. While it seems like a solution to this occasional problem, it puts Alamo guides in an awkward position at the door. Under this non-enforcement idea, male visitors who are asked to remove their hats at the door will see those men who choose not to remove their hats walking around inside and they will question why THEY are being asked to remove their hats. Again, potential for more bad feelings?

So what should be done? Should we enforce the rule and risk an occasional confrontation or let the rule slide? Over 90% of the men asked to remove their hats do so with a quick apology and a hint of embarrassment. Many men just fail to see the large brass sign with the rules posted outside the front door of the Shrine. This one rule on hats, however, deals with forcing a sign of respect as opposed to other rules that deal with protecting the physical building and artifacts. We have always made allowances for wearing hats in the Shrine on religious grounds or medical reasons, but outright defiance becomes another issue.

Alamo guides have been witnessing less respect for the rules and poor behavior and attitudes on the part of visitors today. There is a growing sense of entitlement to be able to do whatever they want, regardless of posted rules. We see it not just in young adults, but in interactions between parents, their children and even teachers and school chaperones. So is this lack of respect and poor behavior just a sign of the times? Should we just go with the flow and let it slide? Or do we stick to the rules? Do we risk confronting the public?

Food for THOUGHT…