Monument Hill State Historic Site

414 State Loop 92
La Grange, TX 78945-5733
979-968-5658
KBMH@thc.texas.gov

 

The monument marks the tomb of the men that died during the Dawson Massacre of September 1842 and the ill-fated Mier expedition of November 1842, also known as the “black bean” incident. Nearby citizens reinterred their remains here in a common tomb so that they can be honored for their sacrifice. The site is now marked by a 1936 Centennial monument.

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

April 8

Bluff Osterfeuer & Egg Hunt

The tradition of Easter egg hunts and spring celebrations within the town of La Grange can be dated as early as the late 19th century, with many reports in papers and oral histories recounting the fun and games of the season. Join us on the Bluff...

May 20

Bluff Schuetzenfest 2023

Celebrate the history of the Bluff Schuetzenverein, a German marksmanship and social organization which once made its home on the grounds of Kreische Brewery & Monument Hill state historic sites. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the...

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