The Alamo announced it has acquired an authentic cannon used during the 1836 Battle of the Alamo, an artifact that had been unaccounted for since the mid-20th century.

The cannon was originally discovered in the 1800s on land once owned by Sam Maverick, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence who was present during the siege of the Alamo. Over time, the cannon ended up on the Maverick family ranch, where it was even used as a bird bath.

In 1955, the cannon disappeared.

Decades later, a Maverick family relative living in Corpus Christi contacted the Alamo, ultimately donating the cannon back to its historic home.

The artifact is now undergoing preservation work at Texas A&M University. Once conservation efforts are complete, the cannon is expected to go on public display at the new Alamo Museum, which is scheduled to open next year.

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