On Farm to Market Road 3191 at County Road 389, on the right when traveling west on Road 3191.
Near this site (about 2.5 mi. N on Cibolo Creek) stood the 18th-century Spanish fort of El Fuerte de Santa Cruz del Cibolo, usually called El Fuerte del Cibolo or El Cibolo. Built to protect the many Spanish ranches between San Antonio and La Bahia . . . — — Map (db m121606) HM
On County Road 245, 0.3 miles south of Farm to Market Road 3191, on the left when traveling west.
Jacob Lyssy (1837-1880) and John Pawlik, Jr. (1845-1912) of the Czestochowa parish each donated one acre of land to Bishop Anthony D. Pellicer of the Archdiocese of San Antonio to be used as a burial ground for the newly established Nativity of the . . . — — Map (db m131923) HM
On Farm to Market Road 3191 at County Road 389, on the right when traveling west on Road 3191.
The second Polish colony in Karnes County, the village in this area grew out of a small settlement known as St. Joe and was formally established in 1873. At times the priest at Panna Maria would conduct services at St. Joseph School in what would . . . — — Map (db m121602) HM
According to oral tradition, the Harmony Baptist Church began in 1864. A church building was constructed by 1875, when Thomas Ragsdale donated land at this site to the church. The building was used also for school classes and Woodmen of the World . . . — — Map (db m235017) HM
On County Highway 277 at State Highway 190 Spur, on the left when traveling east on County Highway 277.
In December of 1894, after being on the losing side of a bitter election in Gonzales County, Wes retired to the home of a friend here in Gillett, the town where he and Jane married in 1872, and began to write the story of his life. This work wasn't . . . — — Map (db m234992) HM
On County Highway 277 at Loop State Highway 190, on the left when traveling west on County Highway 277.
John Wesley Hardin and Jane Bowen were married here in Gillett (Riddleville) on February 29, 1872, by a Methodist minister.
Captions Lower:
Jane Bowen Hardin wedding photo at left. John Wesley Hardin at right, a photo . . . — — Map (db m235010) HM
On Farm to Market Road 887, 0.2 miles south of Loop State Highway 190, on the right when traveling south.
250 yards west lie the remains of a pioneer dam built in 1869 by Carl Edward Riedel to supply the power for his sawmill, gristmill and cotton gin.
That year another German immigrant, Max Krueger, helped install Riedel's gin - first steam cotton . . . — — Map (db m235012) HM
On Farm to Market Road 81 south of County Road 302, on the left when traveling north.
Founded in 1852 on San Antonio River by Thomas Ruckman, a graduate of Princeton, and Lewis Owings, later first Governor of Arizona Territory. Town was named in honor of Owings' wife, Helen.
Situated on branch of famed Chihuahua Trail (running . . . — — Map (db m132367) HM
On Farm to Market Road 81 south of County Road 302, on the left when traveling north.
Example of religious toleration in frontier Texas. Site was used early as 1866 by Methodists, whose church was "free to any Christian denomination for...worship, (and) subject to use of...Helena School".
Trustees of that church were T. K. . . . — — Map (db m132368) HM
Near Farm to Market Road 81 south of County Road 302.
Soon after Karnes County was created and organized in 1854, a frame and clapboard courthouse was erected at this site in the center of Jefferson Square.
This rock structure was built in 1873 to replace the first courthouse and adjacent county . . . — — Map (db m132370) HM
On Farm to Market Road 81 at County Road 302, on the left when traveling north on Road 81.
After centuries of use by buffalo and Indians, this trail from San Antonio to the Texas coast gained importance when opened to colonial travel by the Alarcon Expedition in 1718.
Spanish conquistadores and priests, the Gutierrez-Magee . . . — — Map (db m132371) HM
On Farm to Market Road 81 south of County Road 302, on the right when traveling north.
Founding father of Karnes County, Ruckman was born in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. He graduated in 1848 from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) and taught in South Carolina for a year. But the lure of Texas - then a . . . — — Map (db m132372) HM
On West Calvert Avenue at North Panna Maria Avenue, on the left when traveling east on West Calvert Avenue.
Awarded to Karnes County as a WWI Memorial by 1923 Act of Congress Restored 2018 with assistance from the family of Gladys and Stephen Crews III
Restoration work done by K-3 Machine Tool Co. — — Map (db m192190) WM
On East Calvert (Business U.S. 181) at South Esplanade Street on East Calvert.
This congregation was founded as a missionary church by the Rev. J.D. Walker in 1894, the same year the new town of Karnes City became the county seat of Karnes County. It is thought that early worship services were held in the school building. . . . — — Map (db m192192) HM
On East Mayfield Street at North Esplanade Street on East Mayfield Street.
Karnes City's first edifice built for Protestant worship. Housed congregation originating in 1894 as a mission under the care of Helena Presbyterians, and organized as a church with 14 members in 1895 by the Rev. H.R. Laird, evangelist of the . . . — — Map (db m192191) HM
On East Calvert (Business U.S. 181) at South Esplanade Street, on the right when traveling east on East Calvert.
Seat of Karnes County; was founded in Christmas season, 1890, when a partnership headed by Otto Buchel bought 1,000 acres of land from J. L. Calvert for $5 an acre. The tract was near the geographic center of the county and adjoined the . . . — — Map (db m131922) HM
On North Panna Maria Avenue (Business State Highway 123) at West Calvert Avenue (Business U.S. 181), on the right on North Panna Maria Avenue.
Formed from Bexar County
Created February 4, 1854
Organized February 27, 1854
Named in honor of
Henry Wax Karnes
1812-1840
Conspicuous for gallantry at
storming of Bexar
Commanded a company at
San Jacinto
Texas Ranger . . . — — Map (db m121656) HM
On North Panna Maria Avenue (Business State Highway 123) at West Calvert Avenue (Business U.S. 181), on the right when traveling south on North Panna Maria Avenue.
In 1854 Karnes County erected its first courthouse in the county seat of Helena, an important stage stop between San Antonio and Goliad. The original courthouse was destroyed in a storm about 1865 and a new stone courthouse was built in Helena in . . . — — Map (db m121652) HM
This cemetery was part of the original homestead of William Green and Adeline Burris Butler, who had migrated to Texas with their families before the Civil War. Eventually their ranching interests included land in five South Texas counties. . . . — — Map (db m205856) HM
On Farm to Market Road 626, 0.1 miles south of Farm to Market Road 2102, on the right when traveling south.
On June 12, 1901, Sheriff W.T. "Brack” Morris and deputy arrived at the Thulemeyer Ranch to question Gregorio Cortez (1875-1916) about a reported horse theft in Atascosa County. A shootout ensued, leaving Sheriff Morris dead. Cortez fled the . . . — — Map (db m121759) HM
On West Main Street (Business U.S. 181) at South 3rd Street, on the left when traveling west on West Main Street.
The town of Kenedy occupies a site that once was part of a royal Spanish land grant to Don Carlos Martinez. American settlement in the area began after the Texas War for Independence (1836). Land for a townsite was purchased in 1886 by railroad . . . — — Map (db m174612) HM
On County Highway 329, 0.2 miles south of County Highway 330, on the right when traveling south.
During World War II, the U.S. established three internment camps in Texas for alien civilians in the U.S. and Latin America, and one was located in Kenedy. The U.S. repatriated German, Japanese and Italian detainees in trade for American prisoners . . . — — Map (db m192193) HM
On South 5th Street, 0.1 miles north of School Street, on the left when traveling south.
Episcopal worship services were held in Kenedy as early as 1899, though the congregation of St. Matthew's was not organized as a mission until 1913, by the Rev. Alfred R.S. Garden. Designed by Frank Corby, this was the only Episcopal church in the . . . — — Map (db m174613) HM
On Farm to Market Road 81, on the right when traveling west.
Built in 1855; used as a storeroom for landlord's share of Panna Maria crops. The landlord, John Twohig, a devout Catholic, set aside one room of store for the church and school.
Owned and operated by the Snoga family since 1918. . . . — — Map (db m131919) HM
Built in 1858 by a Polish immigrant from upper Silesia, the John Gawlik House is the oldest stone home in Panna Maria. Characteristics of rural upper Silesian homes and this house are steeply pitched gable roofs with large overhangs covering the . . . — — Map (db m207914) HM
On Farm to Market Road 81, on the right when traveling east.
Settled by 100 Polish families who came to Texas to gain economic, political and religious freedom.
Led by Father Leopold Moczygemba, O.F.M., Conv., they made a contract in 1854 with John Twohig, a San Antonio banker and merchant, for land at . . . — — Map (db m131916) HM
On Farm to Market Road 81, on the right when traveling west.
Built 1875; second oldest store in Panna Maria; still has original rafters and floors. Lime for mortaring stones (visible on back and sides) was fired in home kilns. Store was bought by Victor Pilarczyk, 1913. First gas pump was installed 1919. . . . — — Map (db m131918) HM
On County Road 382 south of Farm to Market Road 81, on the right when traveling south.
Built 1868. Oldest Polish private school in America.
Since 1855, classes had been held in various sites. This was the first school building in the colony at Panna Maria. Teachers lived upstairs and classes were held on the ground floor. . . . — — Map (db m131920) HM
On Farm to Market Road 81, on the right when traveling east.
Oldest Polish settlement in Texas -
Established December 24, 1854 by
the Reverend Leopold Moczygemba
O.F.M., who was instrumental in
bringing from Poland about 100
Polish peasant families - Within a
few months the majority sought . . . — — Map (db m131917) HM
On Helena Street (Farm to Market Road 81) at West Guadalupe Street, on the right when traveling south on Helena Street.
Originally built before 1900, this structure was rebuilt in 1924 by the civic league, "Rungetex" Brass Band, and others. Many stories have been told by older citizens of the good times spent here at band concerts, ice cream socials, and Easter Egg . . . — — Map (db m174608) HM
On Helena Street (Farm to Market Road 81) at West Guadalupe Street, on the right when traveling south on Helena Street.
Early Texas town. Near site where old ox-cart road from San Antonio to Indianola crossed the Ojo de Agua (Spanish name meaning "Eye of Water" or Spring) Creek. Here pioneer travelers found essentials of water, wood, and grass. Numerous Indian . . . — — Map (db m174609) HM
On Helena Street (Farm to Market Road 81) at West Guadalupe Street, on the right when traveling south on Helena Street.
To Commemorate the Valor of the Defenders of our Nation who Served and Fought in the Wars to Preserve our Freedom and Democracy. — — Map (db m174606) WM
