Preservation Weekend - 12/11-12

The moment has finally arrived when nine local homeowners open their doors to their exclusive homes for public viewing during the Fredericksburg Holiday Home Tour, this Saturday, Dec 12, from noon until 6 p.m. Sponsored by the Gillespie County Historical Society, this year’s tour offers nine never-before-viewed properties decorated for the season.

Tickets for the tours are available right up to the day of the event. Home Tour tickets are $25 per person. The Candlelight Tour is $15 per person.

Tickets may be purchased:

Online - www.pioneermuseum.net

By phone - 830-997-2835

By mail - GCHS, 312 West San Antonio Street, Fredericksburg, TX 78624

By email - info@pioneermuseum.net

In person - Pioneer Museum, Vereins Kirche, Historical Society office, Gastehaus Schmidt, Journey Lane Scrapbooking, Crenwelge Motors (Kerrville)

Unique architectural elements include converted fachwerk buildings, restored barns and cabins, 19th century limestone houses, wraparound porches, and many antiques and one-of-a-kind decor items.

This year also marks the return of the Candlelight Tour, to be held on Saturday, Dec 12, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Candlelight Tour opens all buildings on the grounds of the Pioneer Museum, plus three historic homes.

They are the Krieger-Geyer Home, built for the original German colonists, and an example of the fachwerk type of construction; the Tatsch Home, with a 13-foot wide fireplace, walls two feet thick, and original beams; and the Schandua House, the only remaining pioneer home in Fredericksburg with no electricity or plumbing. Carolers will sing at the Pioneer Museum while volunteers serve hot cider and traditional German cookies.

The public can still buy tickets to win one of three unique $2500 prizes offered by the Gillespie County Historical Society: a new motor scooter from Scootique, VISA ift card, or a custom painted gun. The winner’s name will be drawn the night of the Tannenbaum Ball.

Preservation Weekend is the largest fundraiser or the Gillespie County Historical Society, whose mission is to preserve and tell the story of Fredericksburg’s unique cultural heritage.