Keep Cool with “Ice, Ice Baby!” History Program Saturday
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Churning a batch of homemade ice cream takes teamwork one to churn, and one to help break down the chunks of ice. -
Ice blocks must be broken into smaller chips to fit inside the ice cream churner. Families can race to see who can chip the most ice off the block.
Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill State Historic Sites will host a new family program - Ice Ice Baby! - inspired by the challenges of keeping cool in the nineteenth century. Come discover how early Texans beat the heat before freezers and air conditioning and learn how ice revolutionized life for the La Grange community. This program will be held on Saturday, Aug. 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday’s program will explore the impact of ice on 19th-century Texans and the development of the ice industry in Texas. “It’s hard for us to imagine a Texas summer without ice today,” says Lead Educator Jenny Townzen. “This program offers a fun way to experience life before easy access to ice and gain a stronger appreciation for our modern advancements.” Living history staff and volunteers will lead visitors through several activities at the Kreische House to learn just how different making a cold treat was for Fayette County families like the Kreisches.
But it isn’t only hard work. After racing to chip ice blocks and showing their strength wielding ice tongs, visitors will have a chance to help churn homemade frozen treats in the historic ice cream maker. Participants can then enjoy the fruits of their labor by sampling ice cream along with icy drinks created with historic recipes.
This weekend program is included with regular sites admission. Admission is free for Friends members and children aged 5 and under, $2 for students, $3 ages 65+, and $5 for adults.
For more information, visit the Sites’ Facebook page, go to www.VisitKreischeBrewery. com, or contact the Visitors Center at (979) 968-5658.