Historical Markers in New Braunfels, Texas

King's Highway - Camino Real - Old San Antonio Road · 1918

King's Highway - Camino Real - Old San Antonio Road. Marked by the Daughters of the American Revolution and the State of Texas A.D. 1918

Comal County · 1936

Formed from Travis and Bexar land districts. Created - March 24,1846; Organized - July-13, 1846; Named for the river, so called from the pancake shape of the islands formed by its springs. New Braunfels, county seat…

Ferdinand J. Lindheimer · 1936

Soldier in the Texas Army, 1836. A botanist of note. Born in Germany, May 2, 1801. Died December 2, 1879. His wife Eleonora Reinarz Lindheimer born August 3, 1818. Died May 16, 1895.

Home of Ferdinand Lindheimer · 1936

(1801-1879) Soldier in Texas Revolution. Father of Texas botany. Editor of the Neu Braunfels Zeitung. (1852-1872) (Comal Ave., New Braunfels)

John F. Torrey, Site of Early Mill and Factory · 1936

(1821- 1893) Pioneer promotor of Texas industry. He operated a flour, grist and saw mill, a sash, door and blind factory (1850), a cotton factory (1863) and the first woolen factory in Texas. With indomitable spirt he…

Mission Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe · 1936

Established by Franciscan missionaries in 1757 for the purpose of civilizing and Christianizing the Tonkawas, Mayeyes, and their associates. Formerly at Mission San Francisco Xavier on the San Gabriel River. Abandoned…

New Braunfels · 1936

Founded on March 21, 1845 by Carl, Prince of Solms-Braunfels, Commissioner-General of the Society for the Protection of German Immigrants in Texas. Named after Prince Solms' estate, Braunfels, on the Lahn River in…

Home of Ferdinand Lindheimer · 1962

(1801 - 1879) Soldier in the Texas Revolution; father of Texas botany. Editor of the New Braunfelser Zeitung, 1852-1872.

Comal County, C.S.A. · 1964

Manufacturing and supply center in Civil War. The local newpaper urged southern cause so strongly that 1861 vote was 239 to 86 favoring secession. More than 300 Confederate soldiers enlisted here. The "Texas Mounted…

New Braunfels · 1964

Founded in Republic of Texas, 1845, by Prince Karl of Solms-Braunfels. Focal point of German immigration to central and western Texas. Sent men, goods to Confederacy, in Civil War. Historic, recreational, tourist…

Texas Germans in the Civil War · 1964

In 1861, ten heavily German counties in Texas voted against secession, though Comal County was as exception. States' rights puzzled some voters. Many had lately taken naturalization oaths. After secession, some avoided…

Site of New Braunfels Academy · 1965

Site of New Braunfels Academy, the first tax-supported Texas school still existent. By act of the State Legislature (where it was called "a great question of law and public policy") the academy was incorporated in 1858…

Ullrich Home · 1965

Sand brick home built 1855, by Geo. Ullrich, who had driven first wagon of German emigration Co. settlers in 1845 across the Guadalupe River. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1965

First Protestant Church · 1967

State Historical Survey Committee Official Historical Medallion. (not a state marker) (Site of "The German Protestant Church" charterd by the Republic of Texas in 1845 and organized in that year. Erected by DeZavala…

Natural Bridge Caverns · 1967

Discovered March 27, 1960, by four students of St. Mary's University, San Antonio. Named for the rock bridge that marks entrance. Dedicated on August 5, 1964 by Governor John Connally. Of early cretaceous age; still…

Old Scholl House · 1967

Fachwerk (adobe brick and hewn cedar) section was built about 1847 by Heinrich Scholl, Jr. The newer part is Victorian. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1967.

Stephen Klein Home · 1967

Built 1846 by Stephen Klein. one of our first Comal County Commissioners; "fachwerk" construction. Purchased by Edward Naegelin, Sr. in 1868. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1967

Junction of Two Important Rivers, the Guadalupe and the Comal · 1968

Site claimed May 8, 1718, for King of Spain by Gov. Martin de Alarcon, and used by priests and army units in traffic to East Texas. In 1845, ferry here, run by Adolph von Wedemeyer, aided German immigrants settling…

Old Carl W. Groos Home · 1968

Built about 1870 of adobe brick with cypress floor, doors. Has original rolled glass window, ruby glass in front door. It has been home to Carl W. Gross; Judge Adolf Giesesck; merchant Fritz Scholl; and H. Dittlinger,…

Old Krause Building · 1968

Built about 1860 by master carpenter Friedrich Krause of hand-cut native cedar, cypress, limestone, and adobe brick. Once Weber & Deutsch store, Hoffmann Opera House,and drill hall for Clement's Rifles of Texas Militia.…

Old Schmidt Home · 1968

Built 1850s of adobe, hand-hewn cedar, pine, oak. Has pitched roof, outside stair. Story and half. "Fachwerk" style. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark--1968

Site of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe Mission - Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission · 1968

Established on 1756 in the Guadalupe River at or near present New Braunfels as an extension of the ill-fated Mission San Francisco Xavier de Horcasitas (1746-1755). Earlier located 100 miles northeast, San Francisco…

Near River Crossing Used by New Braunfels' First Settlers · 1969

At the crossing of the San Antonio-Nacogdoches Road on the Guadalupe River (used earlier by some of Texas' most famous trail-blazers) about 200 German colonists ended a journey that had begun six months before, in…

Dr. Theodore Koester Home · 1970

Constructed 1859 of cedar, oak, and limestone, a dumb waiter, and speaking tubes on each floor. The versatile Koester (1817-1877) was physician to German Immigration Co. In this house he ran doctor's offices, pharamacy,…

The Moeller House · 1970

Erected by John George Moeller, working alone, 1859 to 1866. Materials used: hand-cut limestone, 18-foot cedar beams and rafters, cypress floors of random width boards. Occupied 1881-1910 by Johannes Moeller…

Waisenhaus (Orphanage) · 1970

Known as first orphanage in State of Texas. Chartered in 1848 as "Western Texas Orphan Asylum" by L. C. Ervendberg (d. 1863), pastor of New Braunfels. Because of severe epidemics, many children were homeless. At this…

Site of Old Schmitz Hotel · 1971

First portion--of local cedar and limestone--was built about 1851 by Rudolph Nauendorf. Early German immigrant Jacob Schmitz bought building in 1858 as new location of his "Guadalupe Hotel." Old World atmosphere of the…

Bevenroth, Heinrich, Home (Early Settler's Home) · 1972

Breustedt House · 1972

A fine example of German colonial "fachwerk" --all walls framed with cedar timbers, then filled solid with sun-baked adobe brick.Built 1858 for Johann Andreas and Caroline (Dauer) Breustedt, at site now just west of the…

Breustedt Kitchen · 1973

Hand-hewn limestone structure floored with wide pipe boards nailed to squared cedar sleepers lying flat on ground; ceilings of adobe and grass plaster on split cedar lath; hand-wrought hinges hang unique casement…

Louis Henne Co. · 1973

Victorian embellishments distinguish this structure, built 1893 by noted local contractor Christian Herry. Owner Louis Henne (1840 -1912) worked in the family tin shop next door, expanded to this site. Third generation…

The Voigt House · 1973

On lot deeded in 1845 to New Braunfels schoolmaster Hermann Seele. Fine Mansard-roof house was built 1870 by Dr. John P. Lehde. It has been owned since 1893 by family of Gustav Voigt (1854-1927), and Frank B. Voigt…

August Dietz Cottage · 1974

August Dietz came to Texas in 1849 as a German immigrant, and settled in New Braunfels. On Sept. 1, 1866, he bought this lot, soon built this cottage, and sold it on Dec. 2, 1867. At first a two room structure, the…

The Braschler House · 1974

Built in 1854 by the Rev. Henry Braschler (b.1818 in Switzerland) who came to Texas in 1848 and served as pastor in nearby St. Martin Lutheran Church, 1852-57. Of caliche and cedar fachwerk, house was later enlarged and…

The Wilhelm Weidner Homestead · 1974

Using stone quarried in Cibolo Creek bed, cedar from the nearby Kramme farm, and locally-made cypress shingles and lumber, Wilhelm Weidner (1835 - 1907) copied his ancestral home in Germany in building his two-story…

Church Hill School Building · 1976

St. Martin's Evangelical Lutheran pastors held day school in the church for years. In 1870 this schoolhouse was built. It served the Hortontown and Neighborsville farm communities, situated on either side of the Church…

Hermann Seele · 1976

(April 14,1823 - March 18, 1902) A native of Hildesheim, Hanover, Germany, Hermann Seele came to Texas in 1843. He became the fist school teacher in New Braunfels on August 11,1845 when he held class for 15 pupils…

New Braunfels Cemetery · 1976

Dedicated at the burial of Mrs. Elise Peter, on June 23,1845, a few months after New Braunfels was founded. This cemetery gave rest to many colonists in early years of hardship that besieged the German Emigration…

The Church of Saints Peter and Paul · 1976

German Catholic colonists, who came to New Braunfels in 1845, obtained their promised church and school site (1847) when Bishop John M. Odin was deeded four lots here on "Lustiger Strumpf" (Happy Stocking) Hill -- so…

Joseph Klein House · 1979

One of the German immigrants who arrived in New Braunfels in 1845, Joseph Klein built this simple frame house about 1852. Origianally it stood at the corner of San Antonio and Market Streets. In 1859 Klein sold the…

The Eggeling Hotel · 1979

Emilie (Kuse) (1854-1930) and Theodor Eggeling (1851-1916), who owned the nearby Plaza Hotel, built this second establishment in 1898-1900. New Braunfels contractor Christian Herry supervised the construction of the…

The Grotto, Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church · 1980

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. A major influenza epidemic spread across the United States in 1918 causing many deaths. Under the leadership of Father J.M.J. Wack (d.1927), who served Saints Peter and Paul Church…

First Patented Wire Fence · 1982

[Special fence design at top of inscription] Virgina native William H. Meriwether (b. 1800), an early Comal County plantation owner, ran a sawmill, cotton gin and gristmill at this site. As an agriculturalist, he was…

Faust Hotel · 1984

First known as the Travelers Hotel, this inn was completed in 1929 with 63 guest rooms and reflected the thriving economy of the New Braunfels area at the time. Renamed "The Faust" in 1936 for the prominent family on…

New Braunfels Academy · 1986

The first German settlers here in the 1840s were assured by their sponsor--The Society for the Protection of German Immigrants to Texas--that schools would be provided in their colony. The society hired its first…

Old New Braunfels High School · 1986

Built in 1913 to replace the old New Braunfels Academy, this building was designed by San Antonio architects C.V. Seutter and Alister Shand, and built by local contractor Adolph F. Moeller. It served as an educational…

Comal County Courthouse · 1993

In 1846 Comal County held its first court session in the home of its county clerk, Conrad Seabaugh. Courthouse facilities acquired in 1849 proved inadequate and were replaced with a 2-story building at the southeast…

Faust Street Bridge · 1999

Caravans carrying supplies to Spanish missions in east Texas and other travelers crossed the Guadalupe River on El Camino Real (The King's Highway) near this site in the 18th century. It sometimes took weeks for…

Carolina Schwab Grave Site · 2000

(Historic Texas Cemetery medallion only)

Original Site of Mountain Valley School · 2001

Original site of Mountain Valley School The original Mountain Valley School was located at this site for 83 years. In 1874, Carl and Matilda Marschall sold one acre to Fritz Krause, Fritz Pantermuehl and Joachim…

Homesite of Johann and Gertruda Walzem · 2002

Homesite of Johann and Gertruda Walzem Johann Joseph and Anna Gertruda Walzem came to Texas from Prussia c. 1851. In 1859, the State of Texas officially granted them the land they had settled (160 acres), including this…

The Hofheinz House · 2002

The Hofheinz House German Native Frederick Hofheinz came to the New Braunfels area with his family in 1852. He later settled In Kendall County and wed Emilie Wilke. He served as Grand Lodge president of the Texas Sons…

Weidner, Wilhelm, Cemetery · 2002

Main Plaza Bandstand · 2003

Following a petition by local residents, the City of New Braunfels built its Main Plaza Bandstand in 1905. Neo-classical in design, it originally served as a stage for summer evening concerts by the Waldschmidt Fire…

Richard E. and Ella Sodke Kloepper House · 2003

Texas native Richard E. Kloepper and Ella Sodke married in 1906, the same year construction began on this house. A prominent local businessman, Richard was a founding member of New Braunfels State Bank, and of the local…

August and Karoline Tolle House · 2004

German native August Tolle (1829-1922) immigrated to New Braunfels with his parents and siblings in 1845 and established a drugstore with Dr. Theodore Koester, his brother-in-law, in 1858. In 1861, he wed Karoline…

New Braunfels: County Seat of Comal County · 2005

Early inhabitants of this area included Karankawa, Lipan, Tonkawa and Waco Indians. Between 1844 and 1846, the Verein Zum Schutze Deutscher Einwanderer in Texas (Society for the Protection of German Immigrants in Texas)…

Plumeyer Bakery Building · 2005

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this site was home to two drugstores and a bakery. In 1913, Kathinka Clemens constructed this building to serve as a bakery for A.C. and Helen Plumeyer, who used the second…

International & Great Northern Railroad in New Braunfels · 2006

As early as 1875, New Braunfels residents began petitioning rail companies to bring lines into the community. The town's first major proposal, to the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railroad, failed to achieve the…

New Braunfels Schuetzen Verein · 2006

The New Braunfels Schuetzen Verein organized in 1849 as one of the nation's early shooting clubs. German immigrants founded the town only four years earlier in 1845 and brought the tradition of target shooting to…