The History Of Fredericksburg & Texas Hill Country

By Pammy McGrath


For history buffs, living in a town such as Fredericksburg, Texas, can be a dream come true. This historic city dates back to the mid-1840s and displays an assortment of beautiful 19th-century architecture as well as many historic sites to visit.

While many citifies in Texas have a unique flair all their own, Fredericksburg even has its own special language. German immigrants founded this town, and for many years, only German was spoken in and around town and even the students at the local schools spoke German. Eventually, the Texas state government required that all instruction must occur in English only. As the students began speaking English, a unique hybrid of German and English was created, which was called Texas German. While this language is certainly not common today, there are a few older Fredericksburg residents who can showcase this interesting dialect.

The entire downtown is listed in our nation's National Register of Historic Places. There are hundreds of local structures, homes and buildings of historic significance, and about 30 of these historic gems can be enjoy via a local historic walking tour. These buildings include an assortment of residential homes, as well as saloons, the old jail and the old country courthouse, which is now used as a library. The first stop on the tour is the beautifully preserved Nimitz Hotel, which opened its doors in 1860.

If you are a World War II buff, you definitely will recognize the name Nimitz. The Nimitz Hotel was built by Charles Henry Nimitz who was the grandfather of Chester Nimitz who grew up in Fredericksburg and eventually became the commander of the entire U.S. Pacific Fleet during the Second World War. The Nimitz Hotel has been transformed into a museum detailing the life and career of Admiral Nimitz, and there is also a newer extension of the property that includes the impressive National Museum of the Pacific War.

If you enjoy touring the homes of U.S. Presidents, it might interest you to note that President Lyndon Johnson was born near Fredericksburg in the tiny hamlet of Stonewall. His birthplace, boyhood home and first school all have been preserved and are incorporated into the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park. The park has two halves, several miles from one another. One contains a settlement of log cabins where President Johnson's grandparents lived, as well as his boyhood home. The other portion contains his sprawling ranch home, known as the Texas White House, as well as the home where he was born and the first school he attended.

For those wishing to relocate to Fredericksburg, consider calling the team at Nixon Real Estate. With more than 35 years of Texas Hill Country real estate experience, they can help you find the perfect home in Gillespie County. They can find all types of Kerrville real estate, Fredericksburg real estate or any town or city in the area. Whether you want a large piece of land, a single-family home, a vacation home or perhaps commercial real estate, the realtors at Nixon Real Estate can help you find something perfect.




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