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MONUMENT
HILL
& Kreische Brewery State Historical Parks
La
Grange, Texas by
John Troesser |
| | Monument
Hill overlooking the Colorado River and La Grange
TE Photo |
| Getting
There: If you enter La
Grange from the north, east or west, you'll pass through downtown La Grange
(one block from the intersection of 71B and Hwy 77). On
the NE corner of the square you'll see the Muster
Oak under whose branches the men of the Somervell/Mier expedition
were sworn in. This may mean nothing to you now, but after visiting Monument Hill
you will understand its significance. This is one of the "Famous
Trees of Texas" and while many are
in their decline, the Muster Oak looks healthier than it did in photographs from
the 1940s. |
| As
you leave La Grange on Hwy 77
South, the road starts to climb and wind immediately after crossing the Colorado
River. When you reach the top, the road to the right will take you the 2/10ths
of a mile to Monument Hill State Park. This is SPUR 92. There
is no light at the top, so be careful. |
Monument
Hill and Kreische Brewery State Historical ParksWe
will say right here and now, even if it harelips the governor, that this is the
most under-appreciated State Historic Site in the system. Although short on activities,
it should be famous if only for it's overlook of La
Grange and the Colorado River.
Architecturally it has the ruins of
the Kreische Brewery and the restored
Kreische home, both hand built
by Adolph Kreische and made from locally quarried stone.
The main attraction
is the burial vault of the men of the
Sommervell/ Mier Expeditions. This footnote to Texas History is perhaps the
biggest single event to influence Mexican-Republic of Texas-United States relations
and was a major factor in the annexation of Texas to the United States. |
Monument
Hill & Kreische Brewery State Historic Site
414 State Loop 92 La Grange, TX 78945-5733
979/968-5658
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us
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Grange, Texas
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© John
Troesser
Our special thanks to Gordon
Heskco of www.heskco.com for providing us with his Monument Hill images. |
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