Fredericksburg National Historic District
Fredericksburg is synonymous with German-Texas heritage. For good reason, too: founded in 1846, Fredericksburg was one of two communities planned and settled by the Adelsverein – a company of noblemen sponsoring German immigration to Texas. After overcoming a few years of adjusting to life in a new land on the frontier, Fredericksburg began to thrive. Thousands of Germans settled here – both in and around town – helping its economy to boom, especially following the Civil War.
An informative walking tour, available at the Visitor Information Center, takes visitors past buildings and homes that showcase Fredericksburg’s German heritage – from the Nimitz Hotel to early saloons, churches and rock houses, to several “Sunday houses” used by rural German settlers trading or attending church over the weekend.