PIONEER MUSEUM

Pioneer Museum has several historic structures in its complex, including the White Oak School, which gives visitors a look into the old one-room schoolhouses that used to cover

all areas of Gillespie County. — Standard-Radio Post file photo

Achance to explore Fredericksburg’s history through historic structures, authentic objects, and photographs is offered at Pioneer Museum, which is owned and operated by the Gillespie County Historical Society (GCHS).

The GCHS and Pioneer Museum work together to create a shared narrative of Fredericksburg history. The GCHS manages historical collections from donors and the Pioneer Museum complex brings the collections to life through exhibits, demonstrations and educational programs.

GCHS

The GCHS was formed in 1934 to preserve and share the history of Gillespie County.

The first Pioneer Museum site was the Vereins Kirche, located in the 100 block of West Main Street. The Vereins Kirche is a 1935 replica of the original structure and is an extension of Pioneer Museum.

In 1955, the society bought the historic Kammlah house, store and property, which included a smokehouse and barn. All are at the Pioneer Museum Complex site.

With other purchases and donations by the GCHS, the Pioneer Museum site has grown to encompass three acres and 11 buildings. Nine of the buildings are historic structures included on a tour of the Pioneer Museum grounds.

The society has over 30,000 artifacts within its rich and diverse collection.

PIONEER MUSEUM

Located at 325 West Main Street, the museum complex features year-round activities, displays, and hands-on demonstrations for families.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Regular museum admission is $7.50 for adults, $3 for youth ages 6 to 17 years and free for children 5 years of age and younger.

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES

The museum hosts a number of special activities during the year: • LENZ FEST — April 16. • EASTER EGG HUNT — Saturday, April 3, at 10 a.m. • MAKE-IT-AND-TAKE-IT ACTIVITIES for ages 10 and under — third Saturday of May, September,

October and November. • KINDERFEST – Dec. 11.

MUSEUM COMPLEX

The Dambach-Besier House at 325 West Main Street was reconstructed as the entrance and gift shop of Pioneer Museum and also serves as the Uptown Visitor Welcome Center.

The limestone house was constructed by F. Dambach in the 500 block of East Main Street in 1869. The house was later used as a restaurant at the Sunday House Inn. In 2008, the Dambach-Besier House was reconstructed at 325 West Main Street.

Visitors begin their tour in the newly-constructed Tank House which has a small interpretive theater with a 12-minute introductory video of the founding of Fredericksburg.

Nine historic structures, displaying authentic artifacts and images, encourage visitors to imagine the struggles of the founding generations — thousands of miles from their birthplace, with scant supplies and equipment, to survive and create a new life.

The Kammlah House began in 1847 as a threeroom home with a half-story loft and grew into a large house with three additions, including three kitchens, a cellar, enclosed stone patio, bedrooms and a formerly screened back porch.

When the GCHS purchased the Kammlah property in 1955, four generations of Kammlahs had lived in the house. Between 1870 and 1923, the Kammlahs operated a general store in the front two rooms.

The house is the oldest building in Fredericksburg open to the public. Each building on the Pioneer Museum grounds tells a different aspect of life in early Gillespie County.

The complex also includes:

The Arhelger Bathhouse, originally built as a bathhouse behind the Arhelger Barber Shop on East Main Street. The Bathhouse now shows a 1920s bathhouse with barber chairs, a period bathtub, and a boot shining chair.

The White Oak School recalls the days of the one-room country schools that dotted Gillespie County until the second half of the 20th century when most country schools were consolidated into Fredericksburg and Harper school districts.

Three additional homes further tell the architectural story of Gillespie County.

The Walton-Smith Log Cabin, built in the 1880s, is a typical Hill Country log-limestone-mortar house.

The Fassel-Roeder House, in its original location, began as a one-room butcher shop. The Fassel family purchased the home in 1874, using the old butcher shop as a bedroom. The Fassel family later added a kitchen, parlor and front porch to the home.

The Weber Sunday House is a typical wooden framed structure built by German families who lived too far from town for day trips. These little houses were used as weekend homes, allowing families to eat and rest when they came to town for church, shopping or funerals.

Also located on the grounds of Pioneer Museum is the Fredericksburg Volunteer Fire Department Museum, built in 1983 by the volunteer firefighters.

Four pieces of early 20th century firefighting equipment tell the history of the department’s early years. The bell on top of the building stood atop the first fire station in town. The siren, which sat atop City Hall until 2011, is now displayed in the museum’s adjacent yard.

www.pioneermuseum.net

Curly of Comfort Land and Cattle Co. offers up some fresh baked biscuits during spring break festivities in 2021. Pioneer Museum has a list of special activities throughout

the year. — Standard-Radio Post file photo