What is the history of New Braunfels, Texas?
New Braunfels was established in 1845 by the German nobleman Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels, Commissioner General of the “Society for the Protection of German Immigrants in Texas”, also known as the “Noblemen’s Society” (in German: Mainzer Adelsverein). Prince Carl named the city for Braunfels, his hometown in Germany. The Adelsverein organized hundreds of people in Germany to settle in Texas. Immigrants from Germany began arriving at the Texas coast in December 1844, planning to travel inland to land grants purchased by Prince Carl. In March, 1845, as the German settlers were traveling inland along the Guadalupe River, Prince Carl bought a parcel of land from the Veramendi land grant, northeast of San Antonio. This tract had strong freshwater springs. Settlers began arriving at the site of the future city on March 21, 1845. As Spring 1845 progressed, the settlers built a fort, divided land, and began building homes and planting crops. Soon after founding the city, Prince Carl returned
