Boerne was first settled by German immigrants in 1849. After forming a small encampment, their first choice in naming their new community was Tusculum, after Cicero’s home in ancient Rome.  This name was evidently too cosmic for Texas even by 19th century standards.  In 1852 the town’s permanent site was laid out and its name was changed to Boerne in honor of Ludwig Börne, a German poet and publicist. Ironically, Mr. Börne never stepped foot in the town that was named after him.

Scene from Main Street

Main Street in 360

This blog site is an effort to tell a slice of Texas history through an emerging new medium, 360° imagery.  360° video and images offer a way to convey a particular scene with greater situational context than is possible with conventional photography and video.

The end objective of 360 imagery is to immerse a viewer in an experience such that they believe they are at the scene of the action, almost as if they are a participant in what they are viewing.

360° is not an either/or replacement for conventional still imagery and video. It is additive. Conventional photography for example is much better at capturing the sublime. 360° nonetheless allows for greater contextual or holistic storytelling.

360° images are not an end to themselves. They must be married up with good content or these images simply become a novelty whose impact is superficial and fleeting.

The story this blog site seeks to tell, through the medium of 360° images, is the contribution and influence German immigrants had on Texas.

Beginning in the mid-1800s, small German communities popped up throughout Central Texas where they left an indelible mark on the state’s history and culture.  My hometown Boerne is one of these towns.

Boerne Main Plaza in 360

 

In early part of Texas history, the largest European ethnic group in Texas were Germans.

German immigrants tended to cluster in small communities located predominately in Central Texas.

As of the late 1880s the population of San Antonio was one-third of German descent.

As late as the 1990s almost three million Texans claimed full or partial German ancestry. By this count, Germans ranked behind Hispanics as the third-largest national origin group in the state.

The Boerne Village Band was organized in 1860 by Dr. Karl Dienger, a German immigrant who arrived in the U.S.  in 1855.

The ban is formed of 25-30 professional musicians. The Mission Statement of the band is to preserve and maintain the heritage of German music as an important part of our community and Central Texas history.

The Boerne Village Band has been recognized by the German Government and the State of Texas as the oldest continuous German Band in the outside of Germany.