Faust Street Bridge, built in 1887.
Museum of Handmade Furniture
Sophienburg Museum
A stretch of the Guadalupe River in New Braufels (Library of Congress)
Early illustration of New Braunfels c. 1840s (Texas State Library and Archives)
German newcomers on the way to New Braunfels in 1841 (UTSA Special Collections)
Guadalupe Hotel, 1858
On both the Chisholm Trail – and the Spanish El Camino Real de los Tejas before that – the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels served as an important water stop and river crossing for weary travelers. The best views of the crossing are upstream from the Faust Street Bridge – which was built in 1887.
The German tradesmen and craftsmen offered everything trail drovers needed to restock. The Sophienburg Museum displays the storefronts and blacksmith tools of the cattle trail era while the Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture exhibits German homebuilding and fine furnishings.
Faust Street Bridge
- Just West of IH-35 at McKenna Ave.
- Pedestrian traffic only
- National Register of Historic Places
Museum of Handmade Furniture
- Hours: Seasonal hours, check website for details.
- Admission: Adults: $5, Seniors: $4, AAA Members: $3.50, Children: $2
- 1370 Church Hill Dr. New Braunfels, TX
- 830-629-6504
- Visit Website
- National Register of Historic Places
Sophienburg Museum
- Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Admission: Adults: $8, Students (13-18): $4, Children (6-12): $2
- 401 W. Coll St., New Braunfels, TX
- 830-629-1572
- Visit Website
