Everyone knows the Alamo doesn't have a basement. But most people do not know that Phil Collins, the world famous British musician, is one of the world's largest collectors of Alamo artifacts, as detailed in his 2012 book, The Alamo and Beyond: A Collector's Journey.



Collins said he had been fascinated by Alamo history since childhood when he often re-enacted the Alamo battle with his toy soldiers. He began collecting artifacts from the Alamo twenty years ago, after receiving Alamo courier John W. Smith's saddle receipt as a gift.



In a deal with Texas authorities, Collins donated nearly all of his Alamo collection last year, as long as it was promised to be housed and displayed and never broken-up.



Part of his collection includes weapons and documents from the Alamo, including David Crockett's pouch, Jim Bowie's sword and Sam Houston’s snuffbox.



In 2011, the Texas legislature transferred control of the Alamo property to the Texas General Land Office, which spurred Collins to donate the items to the state. "I never actually thought they would go for it, because of space, money and time," Collins told The Texas Tribune in October. "They always seemed to be needing money."



Since the items were shipped from Collins' home in Switzerland last year, the state provided $25 million in the 2015 legislative session to revamp the Alamo and surrounding grounds. Part of the money will be used to provide housing for Collins' collection, or else the items must be returned, according to his agreement.



While the 13-day battle at the Alamo with Mexican forces in 1836 was a loss, it was a pivotal event that buoyed support for the Texas Revolution after many observed the cruelty of Mexican General Santa Anna during the battle. After the defeat, volunteers joined the Texian Army and defeated the Mexican Army at the Battle of San Jacinto over a month later, ending the revolution.