Page 479 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

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The hotel was built in the 1850s
by the family of US Admiral
Chester Nimitz, the commander-
in-chief of US forces. It operated
as a hotel until the early 1960s
and opened as a museum in
1967. The museum has been
greatly expanded since, but the
appearance of the old hotel has
been preserved.
Located midway between
Fredericksburg and Austin, the
boyhood home of the Vietnam
War-era, 36th US president has
been preserved as the Lyndon
B. Johnson National Historical German-style architecture in New Braunfels
Park. Other features of the park are
Johnson’s one-room rural school, Memorial Day. While the festival offering land grants to Anglo-
the ranch that served as his “Texas now attracts singers and fans Saxon settlers. The German
White House,” and his grave. from all over the world, it still heritage still thrives in local
retains the homey, intimate archi tecture, cuisine, language,
E National Museum of the atmosphere of the early years. and festivals. Many historic and
Pacific War Another highlight in town is the restored German-style buildings
340 E Main St. Tel (830) 997- Museum of Western Art, which can be seen across the town.
8600. Open 9am–5pm daily. showcases contemporary painting However, German influence is
Closed Thanksgiving, Dec 25. & 7 and sculpture depicting the work- most evident in the numerous
8 ∑ pacificwarmuseum.org ing life of cowboys. Hundreds annual festivals celebrated here,
Y Lyndon B. Johnson National of musicians are attracted to the such as the sausage and beer
Historical Park Kerrville Folk Festival held from festivals and the Polka Festival,
US 290 in Johnson City. Tel (830) 868- late May to early June, which is all of which help preserve the
7128. Open 9am–5pm daily. outdoors and encourages town’s strong German roots.
Closed Jan 1, Thanksg., Dec 25. 7 camping and bonfires. Built on the site that the
8 ∑ nps.gov/lyjo town’s aristocratic founder
E Museum of Western Art Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels,
1550 Bandera Hwy. Tel (830) 896- Germany, chose for his castle
5 Kerrville 2553. Open 10am–4pm Tue–Sat. (it was never built), the
Closed some public hols. & 7 Sophienburg Museum and
* 22,900. @ n 1700 Sidney ∑ museumofwesternart.org
Baker St, (830) 896-1155. Archives documents the town’s
∑ kerrvilletx.com history. Exhibits include several
local artifacts and re-creations
A picturesque resort and 6 New Braunfels of pioneers’ homes and shops,
retirement community located * 28,000. n 237 IH 35 N, (800) 572- an early bakery, a doctor’s office,
in the rugged hills above the 2626. ∑ nbcham.org and a pharmacy.
Guadalupe River, Kerrville is one
of the largest towns in the Texas A popular daytrip from San E Sophienburg Museum
Hill Country. This friendly town is Antonio (see pp478–9), New and Archives
famous for the 18-day folk music Braunfels was one of many towns 401 W Coll St. Tel (830) 629-1572.
festival it hosts annually at the settled by German immigrants in Open 10am–4pm Tue–Sat.
Quiet Valley Ranch just south of the tumultuous 1840s, when Texas Closed public hols. & 7 8
town, starting Thursday before was an independent republic ∑ sophienburg.com

Gallery inside Kerrville’s Museum of Western Art, displaying paintings and sculptures exemplifying the life of cowboys

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