On March 14, 1845, Prince Carl Solms-Braunfels entered into an agreement with Maria Antonia Veramendi Garza and her husband to purchase 1,265 acres for the princely sum of $1,112, which included the present site of New Braunfels.
Four days later, Prince Carl crossed the Guadalupe River at the ford of El Camino Real, which stretched from Nacogdoches to San Antonio.
On March 21, 1845 â Good Friday â emigrant wagons forded the river at the same spot, marking the founding of New Braunfels.
Now, 175 years later â with a one-year pandemic-prompted delay â itâs time to celebrate and commemorate the cityâs cultural heritage, hard work and Gemutlichkeit.
The 175th Anniversary Founders Day Parade, originally scheduled for March 2020, is planned for July 3, starting at 9 a.m., in conjunction with the Sophienburg Museumâs Old Time Fourth of July Patriotic Parade and Program.Â
A popular event is returning.
After a hiatus last year because of COVID-19 precautions, the Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular will make a return to Landa Park in what officials are calling the biggest fireworks display ever seen in New Braunfels.
The annual fireworks display will start at about 9:15 p.m. on July 4.Â
This yearâs professional pyrotechnic display will come thanks to a generous donation from Joy and Rocky Hill in honor of the 175thAnniversary of the founding of New Braunfels. Longtime partner H-E-B is also returning as a sponsor for this yearâs event.
âWe are so excited for the return of the Fireworks Spectacular to Landa Park,â said Stacey Dicke, the cityâs Parks and Recreation director. âAnd this yearâs event will really be something special to behold. Thanks to the Hillâs generous contribution, this yearâs show will feature essentially twice the pyrotechnic firepower from previous fireworks displays. And we may ha