Alamo among sites added to UNESCO's World Heritage list

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization or UNESCO has announced new additions to the 'World Heritage' list. Among the latest entrants is the Alamo and several other historic Spanish colonial Catholic sites, known together as the San Antonio Missions.

According to UNESCO, "The complexes were built by Franciscan missionaries in the 18th century and illustrate the Spanish Crown's efforts to colonize, evangelize and defend the northern frontier of New Spain."

The campaign to get the shrines recognized on the UNESCO list began nearly nine years ago by local officials in Texas.

Highlighting their significance, UNESCO notes, "The San Antonio Missions are also an example of the interweaving of Spanish and Coahuiltecan cultures, illustrated by a variety of features, including the decorative elements of churches, which combine Catholic symbols with indigenous designs inspired by nature."

Their World Heritage designation is expected to bring in over $100 million in additional tourism revenue and hundreds of new jobs to the areas nearby.

All of the United States UNESCO World Heritage sites:

Other World Heritage sites in the US include the Statue of Liberty, Independence Hall and Yellowstone National Park.

Across the world, the list includes many historically and culturally significant landmarks like the city of Petra in Jordan, the Taj Mahal, and the Great Wall of China.