For the New Braunfels Conservation Society, preserving local history is about more than saving old buildings. It is about giving the community a chance to experience the people, traditions, and everyday life that helped shape New Braunfels.
Founded in 1964, the Conservation Society began with the preservation of the Lindheimer House and eventually created a historic village by moving structures to its property. Today, the grounds offer a hands-on look at early New Braunfels, from the original 1870 school to historic homes, businesses, and gathering spaces.
“Our mission is to save and preserve all this stuff,” says Martha of the New Braunfels Conservation Society. “Trying to stay with the mission and, you know, just I love having kids come out.”
That hands-on approach is especially meaningful for younger visitors. Through tours and activities, students can see how earlier generations lived, worked and built their homes, gaining a greater appreciation for what came before them.
That history also comes through in a more familiar way: food.
The Society’s Kaffee Haus during Wurstfest week brings traditional dishes to the table, including potato soup, potato pancakes, sausage sandwiches and Koch Kaese (or Kochkäse). Some recipes have been adapted over time, but the goal is to stay close to the foods and methods that would have been familiar to early German settlers.
“They used what they had,” Martha explains. “With the cow, you got the milk, you got the cream, you got your cut of cheese and your butter. You know, it's one-stop shop with a cow.”
That practical, resourceful spirit is part of what the Society hopes visitors take home. As Martha puts it, “We try to stay with tradition if we can.”
From historic structures to recipes passed down through generations, the New Braunfels Conservation Society keeps pieces of the past within reach. A visit offers more than a glimpse into local history. It is an opportunity to see, taste, and appreciate the traditions that helped make New Braunfels what it is today.
Learn more about the New Braunfels Conservation Society and visit the historic grounds to experience a little local history for yourself.
Pull Quote
“That’s how we present it: a spin on tradition.” - Martha