Columbus: Old City Cemetery

Archway sign named City Cemetery
Old, broken gravestones laid down along a walkway for preservation. Stones were dislodged from original locations by flooding

Flooding caused many old gravestones to dislodge from sandy soil. These have been preserved along a ‘sidewalk’ in the cemetery.

Old, broken tall gravestones lined up along a walkway for preservation. Stones were dislodged from original locations by flooding

Headstones along the graveyard ‘sidewalk.’

Cover a book written in German. Title translation is “Journey to texas” by Detlef Jordt. Published in Bremen in 1834

Journey to Texas, by Detlef Jordt (Dunt), 1833 (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas-Austin)

Front of wood paneled dance hall building with doors and windows open

Schneider Hall

Interior of dance hall with wooden floor, and twinkly lights strung across the ceiling beams, and a group of sofas in one corner

Inside Schneider Hall

The Columbus City Cemetery is the final resting place for Dorothea Jordt, sons Charles and Karl, and possibly Detlef himself – though he doesn’t have a headstone. The cemetery’s oldest headstone dates to 1853. The “Live Oaks and Dead Folks Cemetery Tour” is held here each fall.

Across town, Schneider Hall, founded in 1931, is a great example of a historic German-Texan dance hall. Today, it serves as a private event venue with a wine bar on the main floor.

Additionally, the Chamber of Commerce sponsors weekly tours of several historic homes in Columbus, some of which belonged to prominent German-Texans.

Old City Cemetery

  • U.S. 90 between Rampart and Legion Sts., Columbus, TX
  • Visit Website

Schneider Hall

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