by William J. Gibson

In the Heart of Texas...

The greatest surprise you will find in this Texas Hill Country town is the sight of a US Navy World War II submarine conning tower that sits in the grassy expanse of the Memorial Garden walk. It is a long way to the sea for you are standing in the middle of Texas.

Fredericksburg, Texas, offers a rich historical variety for visitors as well as interesting arts and crafts shopping and is an excellent base for touring to view the natural beauty of the area. Located in the Texas Hill Country due west of Austin and Johnson City on Highway 290. If you have driven through East Texas, say from Texarkana to Houston, you have unparalleled knowldege of the word "flat". Texas Hill Country poses no threat to the Rockies or the Appalachians, but offers gentle undulating hills and a simple beauty composed of retreating hill lines, farms and wildflowers. It is the country in which President Lyndon Baines Johnson was born and raised. German settlers started the town in 1845.

There are three main museums: Pioneer Museum Complex, the Admiral Nimitz Museum, and the National Museum of the Pacific War.

The Pioneer Museum Complex

The complex consists of the pioneer home and general store of the Kammlah family, smokehouse, barn, blacksmith shop, volunteer fire department museum, log cabin, Victorian-style residence and a one-room schoolhouse. There is also an example of a Sunday House, which was a small sleeping cabin that the area farmers built. They would come to town on Saturday to shop and do business, stay over Saturday night and attend church on Sunday. Some of the town's bed and breakfast businesses use these Sunday Houses.

The Admiral Nimitz Museum

The museum honors Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and is housed in the old Nimitz steamboat hotel, built by Nimitz's grandfather in 1852. The museum traces his career in the navy culminating in his command of the Pacific forces during WWII. There is a Memorial Walk which has plaques displayed to honour, individuals, units, ships that served in the Pacific. It is a beautiful garden walk and a very moving reminder of those who fought for freedom. Beside the Memorial Walk is a Japanese Peace Garden. This traditional garden provides cool shade and the tranquil sound of running water. You will find that submarine conning tower beside these two contrasting areas of the museum.

Nimitz Center web page

The National Museum of the Pacific War

The George Bush Gallery of the National Museum of the Pacific War was dedicated by President George Bush on June 11, 1999. In the museum you will find many displays of uniforms, equipment, weapons, and even an example of a Doolittle Raid aircraft, the two-engined B-25, that were sent to bomb Tokyo, a one-way mission, soon after the attack on Pearl Harbour.

This museum is part of the Admiral Nimitz Historical Center and is under the direction of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

The Pioneer Memorial Library

Built in 1882, it was the County Courthouse until 1939. President L.B. Johnson's parents were married there.

Fredericksburg Visitors Information - (830) 997-6523