Sophienburg Museum

Those interested in learning more about New Braunfels [1]’s cultural history should visit the Sophienburg Museum (401 W. Coll St., 830/629-1572, www.sophienburg.org [2], 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Tues.–Sat., $5 adults, $1 students). Not surprisingly, the town’s German heritage takes center stage, with hundreds of artifacts dedicated to telling the story of the hearty folks who settled here in the mid-1800s and persevered through difficult times.

Docents describe how the original village was founded by Prince Carl of Solms Braunfels, and historic photos and documents chronicle these events. A replica town containing a castle, general store, pharmacy, doctor’s office, and saloon help transport visitors to this bygone era.