German Fachwerk
The Breustedt home uses traditional half-timber construction, reflecting the building methods of early German settlers in Texas.
Texas Historic Homes / Historic Museums
Museum of
Texas Handmade
Furniture
Discover a preserved German fachwerk home, early Texas craftsmanship, and the family history behind one of New Braunfels' historic houses.
Explore the History
Texas Historic Architecture
1858
Heritage Village
New Braunfels, Texas
Historic German Texas Home
The Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture
The Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture is located at 1370 Church Hill Drive in New Braunfels Texas in the Heritage Village. It is a historic German fachwerk or half timber home.
The early German settlers used indigenous materials to build strong homes. This one survived being moved from the original Breustedt 200 acre homestead.
German Texan Heritage
A Historic Home Worth Preserving
The Breustedt Family
Built in 1858 or 1859, the home belonged to Betty's ancestors Andreas and Caroline Breustedt.
Heritage Village
The historic house was relocated from its original homestead and preserved for future generations to experience.
01
Fachwerk
Fachwerk
Construction
Early German-Texan Half-Timber Architecture
Historic Construction Methods
The Craftsmanship Behind the Home
Adobe bricks were inserted into a timber frame made from cedar trees. The interior walls were then covered with plaster. The exterior of this home is Cypress wood.
When visiting the house museum, you will be able to see the fachwerk construction of the home in the indoor kitchen wall as well as in the upstairs room. There are few of the old fachwerk homes left in New Braunfels.
A Personal Connection
Family
Heritage
Heritage
The Breustedt Family
Betty's Family History in New Braunfels
This Texas museum house is noted in the book A Field Guide to America's Neighborhoods and Museum Houses by Virginia and Lee McAlester.
This home was my grandmother's grandparent's home.
Andreas and Caroline Breustedt were German early Texas settlers who came to Texas in the 1840's. The Breustedts built their home in 1858 or 1859.
Historic Preservation
From the Breustedt Homestead to Heritage Village
Explore the history of the home and its preservation in New Braunfels, Texas.
1858–59
The Original Breustedt Home
The Breustedts built their home on their original homestead in New Braunfels. The structure reflected traditional German-Texan construction techniques.
Relocation
Preservation at Heritage Village
Originally their home was located west of IH 35 but has been moved to the Heritage Village on the east side of IH 35.
Kitchen
Reuniting the Historic Kitchen
Not long ago the stone kitchen was reunited with the house in Heritage Village.
Betty Saenz / Family Heritage
A Family
Legacy
Legacy
Preserving Texas History
A Home That Remains Part of the Family Story
I am thankful that this family home has been preserved and I visit it often. I love to see the home, the handmade Texas furniture as well as the family photos in the collection.
Visit Heritage Village
Plan Your Museum Visit
Explore traditional German-Texan architecture and handcrafted nineteenth-century furniture in New Braunfels.
Heritage Village
1370 Church Hill Drive
New Braunfels, TX 78130
Tuesday–Saturday
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Guided Tours
Tours outside regular hours are by appointment. Call 830-629-6504 for museum information.
Visitor information: The hours and tour details above reflect the museum's published information and may change. Check the official museum website before planning your visit.
Historic Archive
1858
Breustedt Family Home
New Braunfels, Texas
Texas Historic Homes Archive
Preserving Historic Texas Homes and Family Heritage
Betty's original article preserves the history of the Breustedt family home, its German fachwerk architecture, and its relocation to Heritage Village.
The historic information and Betty's family memories remain part of this Texas Historic Homes archive.
Historic Archive — Current Home Pricing
The Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture is a preserved historic property, not a current real estate listing.
Scroll below to access current pricing of homes for sale NOW through Betty's property search.
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Texas Historic Homes
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