About
“So her name will always be remembered on this side of the ocean, I will name a fortress, which will be built for the protection of New Braunfels, the... Sophienburg”
Established in 1933, the museum occupies the historic site where Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels laid the cornerstone for the original “Sophienburg” (Sophie’s Castle) in 1845, named in honor of his fiancée, Princess Sophie. Today, the museum offers immersive exhibits that chronicle the journey of German immigrants who settled in the region, showcasing artifacts, photographs, and documents that depict their daily lives and contributions to the development of New Braunfels.
The archives house an extensive collection of over one million images and records, making it a valuable resource for researchers and genealogists. Beyond its exhibits, the Sophienburg actively engages the community through educational programs, public lectures, and events that celebrate the area’s unique history and cultural legacy.
Board and Staff
Staff
Jenn Singleterry
Executive Director
Keva Boardman
Curator/Programs
Melissa Wilson
Director of Development
Blake Nolte
Sophie’s Shop Manager
Meagan Baker
Event Coordinator
Beverly Wigley
Archives Coordinator
Renee Miller
Membership Coordinator
Marika Ruh
Finance Manager
Scott Cowin
Reflections
Crystal Antosh, Andra Summerville
Retail Coordinators
Carolyn Phelan
Programming Associate
Linda Schwarzlose, Dorothy Constable, Mark Altenhoff, Sylvia Segovia, Elizabeth Martinez, Sarah Perez, Simon Simek, Catherine Suniga
Museum Associates
Board of Directors
Kimberly Wersterfer
President
Ginger Taylor
Vice President
Gina Engler
Secretary
Glenn Griffin
Treasurer
Tammy Albrecht, Lonny Aleman, Dean Braune, Gregg Goebel, Lindsay Haas, Mallory Hines, Teresa Johnson, Valin Miller, Andrew Noonan, Drew Snider, Myra Zunker
Directors
Past Presidents of Sophienburg Museum and Archives
August 1926 *S. V. Pfeuffer
January 1933 *Joseph Abrahams
*Robert Wagenfuehr
*Oscar Haas
March 1972, 1973 *Frederick Oheim
March 1974 Carroll U. Hoffmann
March 1975 *Joe Faust
March 1976 *Raymond A. Bartram
March 1977 *Margaret Naegelin
March 1978 *Doyle Krueger
March 1979 *Milton Kaderli
March 1980, 1981 *Louise Woodward
March 1982, 1983 Fred B. Willard
March 1984, 1985 John Dierksen
March 1986, 1987 Anna Clare Ray
March 1988, 1989, 1990 *Joyce Borchers
*John Karbach (finished Joyce’s Term)
March 1991 Charlene Fischer
March 1992 *Janelle Berger
March 1993 *Jack Reinarz
March 1994, 1995 *Dona Bruns
March 1996 Dennis Heitkamp
March 1997 *Pierre M. Schlumberger
March 1998, 1999 *Bennie Bock
March 2000 Anna Lee Hicks
March 2001 Howard Schneider, Jr.
January 2002, 2003 Michael Spain
January 2004 Sarah Reeves
January 2005 Joel Erben
January 2006, 2007 Teresa Johnson
January 2008, 2009 David Pfeuffer
March 2010 Karen Boyd
March 2011, 2012 Tammy Albrecht
March 2013, 2014 Mary Jane Coleman
March 2015, 2016 Carolyn Fey Phelan
March 2017 Maureen Haas
March 2018 Kimberly Wersterfer
March 2019 Thomas Matschek
March 2020, 2021 Andrew Noonan
March 2022 Sarah Harper
April 2023 Lindsay Haas
April 2024 Dean Braune
April 2025 Kimberly Wersterfer
*Deceased
