After attending church in New Braunfels, we made our way to Conservation Plaza, a collection of 19th century buildings that have been moved to the site. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by George, a New Braunfels Conservation Society member, who asked us which version of the tour we wanted. We were the only guests and were given one-on-one attention for the next three hours or so, as we went from building to building, George toting a large ring of keys to unlock each door for us. It was an unusual museum in that we could see everything. You know how in most old house tours, you don't get to see every room? Not so, here.
New Braunfels was founded in 1845 by Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels. He was a German nobleman who headed the German settling of the town. New Braunfels, even in the heavily German Texas Hill Country, is a showplace of German heritage. Next month, approximately 100,000 visitors will fill the town during its annual 10-day Wurstfest, but today was quiet.
I had left the house without my DSLR camera, so today's photos come to you from the Smartphone. While I was grateful to have it, I really missed my "real" camera, and was very annoyed with myself.
A saloon; only men were allowed within. Women could come to the back door for a little beer to go.
A popular card game.
There is a complete woodworking shop; also, many pieces in the various buildings are by Jahn.
A Sunday house. Sunday houses were small houses in town where the family could stay when they came into town from the farm for church or for other reasons.
This 1907 REO is one of the Society's proudest displays. It is completely restored and operative.
This organ has 360 pipes; most of them are not visible in this picture. I actually got to play it--how many times does that happen in a museum? The Society put in great effort to restore it and make it operable.
What a beautiful Sunday afternoon! There was so much to see that even Damien, who is 13, said he didn't think his legs could take one more building. (The stairs were the narrow kind you have to back down.)
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