An Old-fashioned Outing with a Thanksgiving-Bonus
Before Thanksgiving dinner reaches the table, someone has to grow, gather, preserve, and prepare the food. A visit to Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm gives those familiar tasks a fresh sense of wonder—and gives families a good excuse
to spend a November day together in the Hill Country.
image credit: Facebook/Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm
At Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site near Stonewall, about 1-1/2 hours from Georgetown, the farm portrays German heritage life in 1918 Texas. Rangers and volunteers in period clothing carry out household and agricultural work, answering questions as visitors explore.
For kids, the appeal is in watching ordinary work happen in unfamiliar ways. Depending on the day’s chores, visitors may see animals being fed, eggs gathered, butter churned, or a meal prepared entirely from scratch on a wood-burning stove. Gardening, knitting, and seasonal food preservation are also part of the farm’s routines. The activities change with the work that needs doing, giving each visit its own rhythm.
WHEN YOU GO
Tours are self-guided, so families can linger over whatever catches their attention. Curious kids can ask how a tool works or where an ingredient comes from, while grandparents may recognize something from their own family stories. It is a welcome engagement to give family members a mission to find an unfamiliar household object, notice a task that would have been a kid’s responsibility, or choose one question to ask a ranger or docent.
The setting, too, has a history of its own. Johan and Christine Sauer settled the property with their children in 1869 and the Beckmann family acquired it in 1900. Many improvements were added to the property thanks to a prosperous cotton crop in 1915. The state opened the preserved farm to visitors in 1975 and its buildings and daily routines provide a glimpse of the ingenuity and effort that supported households more than a century ago.
All of that makes November an especially great time to visit. Conversations about meals, family traditions, and gratitude come naturally when children can see the work behind everyday necessities. Ask how food was kept before modern refrigeration, how families prepared for winter, or what happened when clothing needed repairing. Those questions can turn into lively discussions on the drive home—and perhaps a few new questions for relatives at Thanksgiving.
LYNDON B. JOHNSON PARK
Starting at the visitor center is a useful way to get oriented and ask about that day’s activities. Inside the center, visitors are introduced to the people and landscape that shaped Lyndon Johnson’s life before politics and the White House. Then, beyond the farm, the park has 1.2 miles of trails, with routes passing historic cabins and pastures with Texas longhorns and American bison. Children can also pick up a Junior Ranger journal, adding another activity to the outing.
Families are encouraged to pack a picnic and make time for lunch at one of the park’s picnic areas, which include tables, restrooms, and a small playground. Staff recommend comfortable walking shoes, layers, and water bottles. Families should also plan to use restrooms and fill water bottles before heading to the farm as the living-history area has no restrooms or water fountains.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Thanksgiving weekend brings a special invitation. On Saturday, November 28, the farm’s free “Deck the Halls” event runs from 10am to 2pm. Families can learn about traditional Christmas preparations, including stringing popcorn, making wreaths from local cedar, and dipping candles. The event is come-and-go, and all visitors must check in at the visitor center first.
It is an appealing way to spend time with visiting relatives, enjoy cooler-weather exploring, and bring home ideas for handmade holiday decorations. Along the way, children may discover that a day filled with chores can also be a day filled with stories.
WHEN YOU GO
Park entry and farm tours are free; donations are welcome. November farm hours: 10am–4pm
CLOSED Tuesday, November 24, and Thanksgiving Day Thursday, November 26.
“Deck the Halls” November 28, 10am–2pm; free admission. Check current park alerts and event details before traveling. Activities vary with daily and seasonal chores; visitor participation in chores is not promised.