Historic Sites’ Membership Drive Being Held, Dinner Coming Up
The Friends of Kreische Brewery & Monument Hill State Historic Sites kicked off their Spring 2025 membership drive earlier this month. Excited by the nonprofit organization’s growth over the last five years, the Friends Board-of-Directors and sites staff welcome new and renewed members from across the community and beyond. The membership drive concludes with an exclusive membership program on Thursday evening, March 27, featuring an interactive history program with dinner and drinks. For more information or to purchase Friends membership, visit www.friendsofkbmh. org/memberships, stop by the Sites’ visitors center, or call (979) 968-5658.
The Friends of Kreische Brewery & Monument Hill State Historic Sites is the key partner of the Texas Historical Commission in supporting education and interpretation programs, community outreach, preservation projects, and other important Sites initiatives. Friends members support these initiatives while enjoying several exclusive benefits with their annual subscription. Chief among these benefits is free admission to the sites during regular hours. Members also receive 10% off purchases in the museum store, invitations to exclusive membership socials and programs, discount admissions for signature events like Trail of Lights and Bluff SchuetzenFest, and the quarterly newsletter. Basic memberships start as low as $25 per year and include individual, couple and family levels. Additional benefits are available for premium memberships, which begin at $100 per year and help further the reach of Sites education and preservation programs.
“Being a member of the Friends of Kreische Brewery & Monument Hill is perfect for families, providing a safe space for kids to run around and explore,” says longtime Friends member Jonathan Hernandez. “My kiddos especially love the new playscape. With access to beautiful hiking trails and stunning views, families can enjoy outdoor adventures together. Additionally, the chance to learn about the area’s rich history allows families to connect with the past, fostering meaningful experiences that everyone can cherish.”
The spring membership drive concludes with one of the organization’s favorite membership exclusive events. Friends and sites staff will host “Libations & Liberation: Mixed Drinks of the Freed Mier Prisoners” on Thursday, March 27 from 5-7 p.m. Scheduled near National Cocktail Day and the anniversary of the Black Bean Episode, this members-only event tells the history of the Dawson and Mier Expeditions through the drinks and food consumed by expedition member in the 1840s. Samples of historic cocktails and stew, derived from primary accounts, are served as part of the program.
Kreische Brewery & Monument Hill State Historic Sites are two of 40 historic sites operated by the Texas Historical Commission. These sites tell the real stories of Texans who made and remade Texas—a product of immigration, ingenuity, enterprise, risk, and sacrifice. Kreische Brewery shares the stories of German immigrant Heinrich Kreische, a well-regarded stonemason who built and operated one of the earliest commercial breweries in Texas. Monument Hill preserves the burial place of Republic of Texas soldiers who died in the Dawson Massacre and ill-fated Mier Expedition (“Black Bean Episode”). The sites also offer recreational opportunities for hiking, picnicking, scenic views, and nature experiences. For more information visit www.visitkreischebrewery. com.