In the mid-1840s, Germans looking for a better life were reading and hearing about Texas as a land of limitless opportunity. They risked everything to get here, faced every obstacle and created a unique German colony in the heart of the Texas Hill Country.
The Pioneer Museum grounds is a combination museum and historical site on 3.5 acres featuring historic homesteads and buildings donated by founding families of Gillespie County.
Among the structures are a one-room schoolhouse, a log cabin, a Sunday house, a bath house, a barn, a smokehouse that showcase artifacts and architecture which help to preserve and tell their story.
Visitors also may browse through the Fredericksburg Volunteer Fire Department Museum which displays pieces of early 20th century firefighting equipment.
Vereins Kirche Museum
Just two blocks away from the main grounds stands the Vereins Kirche (“Society Church”). The Vereins Kirche is located in the middle of the town square, called Marktplatz. This is a replica of the first public building constructed by the pioneers in Fredericksburg.
The original, built in 1847 served as a combination church, school, and community center for decades. A replica was built in 1935, the project that launched the Gillespie County Historical Society.
Historic County Jail
Today’s Historic Jail was completed in December 1885. The Historic Jail is 25 feet wide, 35 feet deep, and 20 to 22 feet high with two stories. The jail is open on the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Kids’ programs
Little Pioneers programs bring Gillespie County history to life for children with hands-on, interactive activities like blacksmithing, quilting, weaving, animal husbandry, stitching, baking and candle making.
The museum also celebrates the holidays with Kinderfest at Christmas time, and an Easter Egg Hunt in the spring.
Youth attractions
There’s something for kids every month during the school year and weekly during summer.
Guided Tours
Give your group of 15 or more an elevated Pioneer Museum experience. Guides will interpret the historical relevance of each historic structure, provide helpful information and a personal touch to enhance appreciation of the exhibits. Allow an hour and a half for a guided tour.
Archives, Research
The Gillespie County Historical Society (GCHS) houses archives pertaining to the life and culture of German settlers in Gillespie County. GCHS encourages the public to take advantage of the information found in these unique resources.
The collection includes almost 70,000 individual items.
The museum also provides services that include selling copies of historic images in the collection and providing research materials for various projects.
Museum Store
The Pioneer Museum store offers a unique and varied selection of historical books by authors from the Texas Hill Country and beyond. It also features a variety of local-made sauces, jams, candles and more, as well as Texas-themed home decor, aprons, hand towels, pillows, signs, toys and logo memorabilia.
Living History Days
The Pioneer Museum hosts Living History days monthly and as program events throughout the year.
First Saturday Living History Days — Held from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on the first Saturday of every month, living history presenters from the Frontier History Company Foundation will be on site at both the Pioneer Museum and the Historic Jail. A Pioneer Museum Day Pass provides visitors access to both these locations and the living history presentation.
Handwerkers are also on the Pioneer Museum grounds on these first Saturdays from 10 a.m.-12 noon, working on different types of handwork projects like needlepoint, bobbin lace, embroidery, cross stitch, knitting and crochet.
Pioneer Museum’s premier Living History Days are Founders Day (early May) and Spring Break week (mid-March).
These museum programs showcase the living history presenters from the Frontier History Company Foundation, as well as blacksmiths, rope makers, chuckwagon cooks, spinners, handwerkers, corn shellers and more.
Plan your visit
Day passes are exclusively sold at Pioneer Museum and the Vereins Kirche Museum and are good for 24 hours from the time of purchase and provide entrance to Pioneer Museum, the Vereins Kirche Museum and Historic Jail (when open for programs).
Admission - Day Pass General Admission..................................................$12
Military and Senior....................................................$7
Student......................................................................... $5
Children age 5 and under.................................. Free
Events Calendar
First Saturday Living History Days held first Saturday of each month. The Historic Gillespie County Jail is open the first Saturday of each month. Handwerkers on Pioneer Museum Grounds the first Saturday of each month. Spinners on Pioneer Museum Grounds the second Saturday of each month. Fredericksburg Farmers Market at the Pioneer Museum is held on Thursdays from 4-7 p.m. from Sept. 28-Nov. 2.
Sept. 16........Little Pioneers Program, “Bread and Butter.” Sept. 19........Guest speaker, Dr. Donald Frazier on “The Republic of Texas.”
.Oct. 21...........Little Pioneers Program, “Hand-dipped Candle Making.”
Nov. 11...........St. Martin’s Day Celebration.
Nov. 17..........Holiday Market Preview Party.
Nov. 18..........Historic Home Tour and Holiday Market.
Dec. 2...........Kinderfest.
Dec. 2-3.......Singing Christmas Tree.
Dec. 15..........Tannenbaum Ball.
Dec. 26.........Zweite Weihnechten (Second Christmas).
2024 Jan. 20.........Little Pioneers Program, “Blacksmithing.”
Feb. 17..........Little Pioneers Program, “Quilting.”
March 11-16...Spring Break Living History Week.
March 30.....Easter Egg Hunt.
April 30........Lenz Fest.
Check the Events page at pioneermuseum.org to see the dates and details for these programs.
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