In 1849, German immigrant Heinrich Ludwig Kreische purchased 172 acres of land including the Dawson/Mier tomb, now known as Monument Hill. Master stonemason Kreische built a three-story house for his family. In the 1860s, he utilized the spring water from the ravine below his house and started one of the first commercial breweries in Texas. Walk the ruins of this once bustling brewery and envision how Fayette County citizens would come and enjoy a pint of Kreische’s Bluff Beer while looking out towards the beautiful Texas landscape. The Kreische Brewery and home are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Upcoming Events
October 14
Archeology Day at Kreische Brewery
Join us for a day of exploring the past! Learn more about the work that archeologists do by exploring the history and artifacts of Kreische Brewery, a site excavated by Parks and Wildlife in the late 1970s. The day includes hands-on family-...
October 27
Spooky Stories & Bonfire Night on the Bluff
Join us this Friday as we light a fire on the Bluff and recount historical spooky stories of Texas and Fayette County! Enjoy local legends and frightening tales around the bonfire and set yourself in the mood for Halloween.
Gates open at...
December 8
Trail of Lights at Kreische Brewery & Monument Hill
Join Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill this holiday season as the grounds transform for our annual holiday lights event. Walk along our historic trail to themed displays such as Candy Lane, Holiday in the Dog Park, O Tannenbaum musical display,...
From the Blog
By Jasmina Kocurek, Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill State Historic Sites
The milestones of LGBTQ+ literature are not the first thing that come to mind when one thinks of La Grange, Monument Hill, and the Kreische House. But that is just where one of the first English-language novels to depict lesbian love is set.
Norma Trist or Pure Carbon: A Story of the Inversion of the...
By Gavin Miculka, Assistant Site Manager, Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill State Historic Sites
Texans captured after the Dawson Massacre and the Battle of Mier—including those that drew white beans—were eventually imprisoned in Castle San Carlos de Perote in the Mexican state of Veracruz. While a few managed to escape Perote Prison, most were not liberated until September 1844....
This article originally appeared in the Fall 2013 issue of The Medallion.
Article and photos by Andy Rhodes, The Medallion Managing Editor
In the mid-1800s, Germans arriving in Texas were only a few decades removed from the first Oktoberfest in Bavaria. On October 12, 1810, the citizens of Munich were invited to the royal wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess...
Photo Gallery
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