Brenham Heritage Museum has a new permanent exhibit! The interactive European Immigration Kiosk explores the cultural roots of the Texas hill country community, weaving stories of the European immigrants who settled in Washington County in the mid-1800s. The exhibit offers a window into their long journey from present-day Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Poland and how their distinct traditions shaped the region’s culture.
Museum Executive Director David Thomas described the inspiration for the exhibit, saying "I look at the porthole, at the endless water flowing by, and imagine how an immigrant in the 19th century would have felt seeing nothing but water, potentially for 3 months. Add to that the nearly complete unknown of the new life awaiting them and we can begin to get an idea of what a complete leap of faith it was for them to make this journey.”
According to TSHA, Washington County and the surrounding hill country remained largely unsettled by Europeans until 1821, when Stephen F. Austin offered land grants to 300 settlers, mostly of British ancestry, to relocate to the region. The population continued to grow rapidly after the Republic of Texas was established. With Washington County serving as the seat of government, the customs and traditions of its settler communities reverberated through the young Republic.
It was during this time that the German Emigration Company was formed and began recruiting settlers from Germany to move to the hill country. By 1847, there were over 7,000 German emigrants in Texas, establishing a regional foothold for Central and Eastern Europeans who sought economic opportunity and religious freedom. Immigration continued into the 20th century, and the cultural influence of these communities can still be felt throughout the region.
The European Immigration Kiosk and Welcome Wall opened on September 10 with support from the Texas Historical Foundation, Humanities Texas, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Be sure to visit Brenham Heritage Museum when you are in the area and enjoy a preview of the exhibit in the video below!
