Welhausen Park Bandstand
Shiner, Lavaca County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Built in 1913 on land donated by Confederate veteran and local leader Capt. Charles Welhausen (1835-1916), this bandstand has been a center of cultural and social events in Shiner. Funds for construction were raised by the local women's civic club, which chose a design typical of park architecture in the Victorian age. The bandstand was used for ice cream socials, bazaars, Sunday afternoon concerts, patriotic events and moonlight picnics. The structure has been kept in its original condition except for the replacement of its wooden floor and steps.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Built in 1913 on land given by Confederate veteran and civic leader Capt. Charles Welhausen, this Victorian-style bandstand rose from funds raised by Shiner's women's civic club. For generations it was the stage for the town's shared life—ice cream socials, bazaars, Sunday concerts, patriotic gatherings, and moonlight picnics. Apart from a replaced floor and steps, the structure survives much as it was built.
Why it matters
Park bandstands were the beating heart of small-town social life in the early 20th century, and this one was made possible by women's civic organizing.
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Related people
- · Capt. Charles Welhausen
Themes & tags
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