Sophienburg Museum and Archives

The rise an fall of the Darmstadt

October 6, 2013

By Myra Lee Adams Goff Called by some, “a catastrophic failure of dreamers”, the organization of about 40 intellectuals, university fraternity members and freethinkers banded together with a common cause. They were called “Darmstadters”, or the “Society of the 40” and their plan in 1847 was to organize a communistic

Join Sophienburg at Main Plaza for traditional Fourth of July

June 30, 2013

Around the Sophienburg, Sophienblog

Photos: July 4, 2013, Parade and Program By Myra Lee Adams Goff It is fitting that the Sophienburg Museum and Archives sponsor the Fourth of July parade and celebration here in downtown New Braunfels. Prince Carl chose the little hill on which the Sophienburg Museum is located to build a

Klappenbach House on Klappenbach Hill still stands

May 5, 2013

Around the Sophienburg, Sophienblog

By Myra Lee Adams Goff Do you know where the Klappenbach House is located? From Landa St., turn onto Fredericksburg Rd. and go straight until you get to a hill, Klappenbach Hill. The house on the left is the Klappenbach property. The story of the Klappenbach family is indeed interesting.

Emigrants unprepared for conditions in ships

March 10, 2013

Around the Sophienburg, Sophienblog

By Myra Lee Adams Goff In your imagination, go back to 1845. The German immigrants will be crossing the Guadalupe River into what would become the settlement of New Braunfels. The date is March 21st and in 1845, it was Good Friday. As we know, Good Friday is not often

Old Forke Store ready for Wurstfest

October 21, 2012

Around the Sophienburg, Sophienblog

By Myra Lee Adams Goff A flurry of activity and preparation is engulfing organizations that involve themselves with Wurstfest activities. The ten- day celebration is from Nov. 2nd through the 11th. One organization, the Conservation Society, located on Churchill Drive, utilizes their grounds to hold a major fundraiser during Wurstfest.

1850s Mill Street house being restored

March 6, 2012

Around the Sophienburg, Sophienblog

By Myra Lee Adams Goff What’s happening to the old house at 230 W. Mill St? I found out. Jeff and Denise Mund have bought the old Georg Pfeuffer house and they are restoring it. Records show that this is the sixth time that there have been major additions and

New Braunfels from conquistadores to state of United States

January 10, 2012

Around the Sophienburg, Sophienblog

By Myra Lee Adams Goff Hermann Seele in his book Die Cypress summarizes the German immigration story to New Braunfels and the surrounding areas and how it relates to the history of the state of Texas. The detailed account by Seele was translated into English by the late historian Oscar