Museum News! February Happenings

lt's sausage making time in the Texas Hill Country with a group of individuals from the Hermann Sons in 1976. Pictured from left, Lee Moldenhauer, Johnny Sagebiel, Ernst Bohnert Jr., Clarence Cornehl and Felix Heep. Photo from July 1976.

Be sure to check out Facebook and Instagram for more photos like this!

FEBRUARY CALENDAR

4 & 18 - Conversational German Series

6 & 7- First Weekend Living History

7- Annual Membership Meeting

Through March 9 - Traveling Exhibit- Texas Traditions

Through April- Temporary Exhibit- Roots & Remedies

Save the dates!

March 6-7- First Weekend Living History

March 11-18- Spring Break at the Museum

VOTE NOW!

Join us for the first Friday Public Program of 2026!

Lauren Peterson from White Deer Apothecary will present on medicinal plants of the Texas Hill Country.

The presentation will be held on Friday, Feb. 6 from 3-5 p.m. in the Gillespie County Historical Society Sanctuary at 3 p.m. It will also be available on live stream here.

First Weekend at the Museum

Come Share Our Story!

2026 First Weekend Living History is here! We are excited for another great slate of living history activities for all ages! Find the full schedule here.

Saturday, February 7

Pioneer Museum and Vereins Kirche Museum open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Temporary Exhibit located in the Pioneer Museum Store- Native Plant Society
Spinner Demonstration
Handwerker Demonstration
Blacksmithing Demonstration
Frontier History Company Interpretive Living Historians
Family activity: Candle Making
Museum scavenger hunt
Frontier History Company Live Firearm Exhibitions at 11:30 a.m.,
1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.

PLUS....

Historic Jail, 117 W. San Antonio St. with Interpretive Living Historians 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Shopping in the Museum Store – 10% off Book of the Month

Annual Membership Meeting

Saturday, February 7

Due to inclement weather, the meeting has been rescheduled for Saturday, February 7, 2026.

Join us for the Gillespie County Historical Society and Pioneer Museum's annual membership meeting. The meeting will be held in the Gillespie County Historical Society Sanctuary at Pioneer Museum, 312 W. San Antonio St.

A coffee social will be from 9 to 9:30 a.m., featuring coffee from Fredericksburg Coffee Company. A business meeting will begin at 9:30. In addition to regular business items, membership will approve the 2026 Board of Directors. Current members are encouraged to invite any persons who may be interested in becoming members.

“All members are invited to attend the Annual Membership Meeting, as well as anyone interested in joining, or renewing membership in the GCHS/Pioneer Museum,” outgoing Membership Chair Judy Luckenbach said. “We look forward to seeing you there.”

For more information on Museum membership, click here.

Now through March 9, the Museum will host a special exhibit on loan from The Texas Center at Schreiner University titled "Texas Traditions- We Are What We Eat: An Immersive History of Texas Sausage.”

The exhibit dives deep into sausage making in Texas from homemade operations to large scale production and its impact on the barbecue industry.

Access to the exhibit is included with regular museum admission. It is located in the Gillespie County Historical Society Social Hall.

Artifact of the Month

Folding Candle Holder

The artifact of the month for February is a folding candle holder. This pocket folding candle holder was brought from Germany in 1860 by the Frank Pressler family. For the first two months after their arrival, it was the only light source the family had in their home.

The candle holder will be displayed throughout the month of February in the Dambach-Besier House, the entrance to the Pioneer Museum complex, during regular business hours.

10% off all month long!

The Perfect Sausage- Making and Preparing Homemade Sausage

Join barbecue master Karsten “Ted” Aschenbrandt as he demonstrates how to make the perfect sausage. From raw ingredients to kitchen gear and gadgets to secret tips for better flavor, this cookbook covers everything you need to know in easy illustrated steps. Packed with nearly 30 different sausage recipes from around the world, readers will learn classic styles from the different regions of Germany, including the Berlin currywurst and a bratwurst from Rhineland, as well as merguez, chorizo, and an apple and onion brat. The Perfect Sausage also features 26 recipes that can use homemade sausage, including sausage pie, sausage and bread shish kebabs, and merguez with tomato polenta. Rounded out with detailed grilling techniques, this is a must-have addition to any grill enthusiast's library.

The book is 10% off all month long and can be purchased during regular museum hours, Monday- Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. or online at pioneermuseum.org.

Learn About All Museum Events Here

Pioneer Museum | PioneerMuseum.org