Serbin, Texas Travel Guide

Region: Prairies & Lakes

This town was settled by the Wends, Germans of Slavic descent who came to Texas in the 1850s and brought with them the Gothic architecture of their homeland. From 1865 to 1890 this was a thriving town, boasting dry goods, jewelry, drug, and music stores, three doctors, and two dentists. When Serbin was bypassed by the railroad, it quickly declined.

Serbin's one of those towns you have to be going to to run across; it's not on a major road. From Giddings, turn south on US 77, then south again on FM 448, continuing on for five miles. At the intersection of FM 2239, turn right and continue two miles.

Attractions

Texas Wendish Heritage Museum. (photo, right) You'll find antique furniture and household items as well as photos of the early days in this local history museum. Open weekday afternoons and Sunday afternoon. Located off FM 2239, down the road from the St. Paul Lutheran Church.

St. Paul Lutheran Church. (photo, top of page) The historic St. Paul Lutheran Church, a smaller version of the elaborate German cathedrals of the 18th and 19th centuries, was built in 1859 of native sandstone. To replicate marble, the parishioners painted the plaster walls with turkey feather brushes. This church once had a very unusual seating arrangement: Men sat in the balcony across from the pulpit, women and children took the pews on the floor. Located at Off FM 2239. Open daily.

[For more painted churches, see Schulenburg]

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