Last updated: 1/14/2011
New Braunfels, Texas
Address
401 West Coll Street
New Braunfels, TX 78130
phone: 830-629-1572
fax: 830-629-3906
e-mail: spohienburg@sat.net
web: www.sophienburg.com

Admissions

Adults $5.00; Under 18 free with adult

Museum Type(s)

Staff

Michelle Oatman
phone: 830-629-1572
e-mail:
Description

Sophienburg Museum and Archives in New Braunfels, TX is one of more than 15,400 museums in the MuseumsUSA directory. Find an exciting museum to visit where you live or vacation today.

History

The Sophienburg Museum and Archives, a 501 ( c) (3) organization is located in New Braunfels, Comal County, Texas. The Sophienburg was established in 1933. This associatoin was formed by a group of concerned citizens for the purpose of "perpetuating the memory, and spirit of the early pioneers of New Braunfels, to encourage historic research into the history of New Braunfels, and to erect suitable structures on and to preserve places made historic by the founding and development of said city."

The Sophienburg is located on the historic site of the Sophienburg Headquarters established by Prince Carl of Solms Braunfels, Germany for the Verein in 1845. In 1926 this historic site was purchased by $5,000 by public subscriptin. As the : great depression" drew to an end the Memorial Association in 1933 opened a library and Museum built with public subscribed funds and the Wroks Project Administration aid. In 1938, on a portion of this historic site, a new library building was funded by a concerned citizen with the stipulation that the land and building would revert to the Memorial Association when the city built a library.

When the City completed the new library facility the old library and grounds reverted to the Memorial Association and became the Archives building to house documents and artifacts. The Museum's and Archives collection contains only items that relate to the Association's purpose as stated in its State Charter. Programs, exhibits, and artivities are directed to honoring the founding fathers and interpretation of these ideas to the general public and to help perpetuate the history of New Braunfels founding to present. The Museum and Archives publics include the decedents of the original pioneers, persons from Germany who wish to see how the German Culture has fared in Texas, as well as those persons from all the states of the USA who are interested in history and particularly of this unique German Colony in Texas.

In august 1990 the 1929 city hall became available for purchase. After a two-year fundraiser the Sophienburg purchased the building on October 19, 1992. Shelving was purchased and the archival heritage of Comal county was moved to 200 North Seguin, New Braunfels, Texas. The Archives contains over 1100 collections and over one million photo images.

The Archives also holds the Comal county Genealogy Society collection, an extensive map and music collection. Numerous Comal County organization records and within the past few yeasrs the Comal County record from the State which are being listed and indexed within the Computer System.

The Archives is available for the use of the general public daily between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The sophienburg has no indebtedness.

Publications

newsletter quarterly New Braunfels Pictorial History and Guten Appetit

Exhibitions
Museum Events
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