Friends of Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill at Real Places 2026
The Friends of the Texas Historical Commission (FTHC) and the Texas Historical Commission (THC) recognized the Friends of Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill with the eighth annual Friends Alliance Award at the 2026 Real Places Conference. This award honors a supporting nonprofit or volunteer group for exemplary stewardship of a THC state historic site.
The Friends of Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill were recognized for their creation of an Outdoor Interactive Exhibit Space (OIES), an innovative educational playscape designed to
engage children and families while deepening their connection to the history of Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill State Historic Sites.
For decades, the sites offered limited amenities for young visitors. While playground equipment had existed on the grounds since the 1950s, efforts to modernize or expand those spaces had not been successful. Working closely with the Texas Historical Commission, the Friends helped reimagine what a children’s space at a historic site could be—one that combines imaginative play, physical activity, and curriculum-based learning with the stories that make the sites unique.
The Friends funded the research and development phase of the project, provided significant seed funding for construction, and coordinated a community-wide fundraising effort involving individual donors, local organizations, and foundation grants. In total, the Friends helped secure more than $142,000 to bring the project to life!
The Outdoor Interactive Exhibit Space officially opened on November 7th, 2025, and welcomed more than 100 attendees, including community leaders and local dignitaries. Among its many features is the Kreische Ferry, a cart-and-pulley experience inspired by the historic river crossing that once connected Kreische’s Bluff and La Grange, allowing children to explore the importance of transportation and commerce in the region’s history through hands-on play.
The impact of the project has been immediate and substantial. Family memberships in the Friends organization have doubled since the opening, and overall visitation has increased by 18%. The new space has also expanded educational opportunities at the sites, leading to increased field trips and the development of more than a dozen programs that use the exhibit space as an outdoor classroom.
The Friends of Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill continue to support future enhancements to the playscape, including plans for a covered wagon shade structure and an outdoor teaching space!
The FTHC is honored to recognize the Friends of Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill for their vision, leadership, and commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for the next generation to experience Texas history. The Friends of Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill was represented at the award ceremony by their President, Andrea Polasek, and their Treasurer, Tim Pylant. Through this group’s generosity and dedication, they have created a one-of-a-kind space that strengthens preservation, education, and community engagement for years to come.
The nomination period for the 2027 Friends Alliance Awards will begin in September and will be announced on the Friends of the THC’s website, thcfriends.org.
For more information about the Friends of the THC, contact Executive Director Anjali Kaul Zutshi at 512-936-2241. For more information about the Historic Sites Community Engagement Program, email Coordinator Lorelei Gonzalez.