Highsmith, Carol M. This business in Fredericksburg, in the Texas Hill Country, calls itself the “Talk of the Town.” Perhaps it’s because of the elephant and lacy rail over the door. It’s the former White Elephant Saloon. April 9, 2014. Photograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2014633173/.
The teacher will begin by displaying the image and prompting students with observation and inquiry questions: What do you notice? What do you wonder? Students will use a graphic organizer to analyze setting, architecture, and signage, then connect visual clues to what life might have been like in a rural Texas town. The teacher and students will discuss the significance of names like “White Elephant Saloon” and how local history is preserved or repurposed.
The White Elephant Saloon was built in Fredericksburg, Texas, in 1888. The town of Fredericksburg was founded by German immigrants. It served as the central social hub of the town and has been preserved for its German architecture, making it the most notable landmark in Fredericksburg.
Source: https://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/TX-01-NB41?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- What architectural details in the photo stand out, and what might they tell us about the town’s culture and influences?
- How does the building’s design and decoration compare to what you might expect in a rural Texas town of its time?
- What can you infer about the saloon’s role in the community from the way it appears in the photograph?
ELA Standard
AL.9.10: Present research findings to a peer audience, either formally or informally, conveying credible, accurate information from multiple sources, including diverse media.
Social Studies Standard
D3.3.9-12: Identify evidence that draws information directly and substantively from multiple sources to detect inconsistencies in evidence in order to revise or strengthen claims.
Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.
- The lesson will begin with a Think-Pair-Share activity. Students will first observe the image independently, using a visual analysis organizer to record details they see (architecture, signage, materials, etc.), questions they have, and any historical clues they notice. Then, they will pair with a partner to compare observations and discuss what the building might have been used for and how it fits into the context of Fredericksburg.
- As a class, read a short background paragraph that provides historical context about the White Elephant Saloon’s origins in the late 1800s and its current role in Fredericksburg’s business landscape. Students will connect this to broader themes of how rural communities evolve over time, repurposing spaces to maintain cultural identity and attract visitors. Then, students will answer the following questions:
- What does the design and appearance of the building tell us about the culture and values of Fredericksburg during the time it was built?
- Why might a business choose to preserve or repurpose a building like the former White Elephant Saloon instead of tearing it down?
- How does this image help us understand life in a rural Texas town in the late 19th or early 20th century?
- Students will work in small groups to respond to the instructional focus questions, using evidence from the image and context text. Each group will present one of their responses on chart paper or digitally. The class will discuss the symbolism of the elephant and the purpose of preserving buildings like this.
- The teacher will show students an updated picture of the saloon with renovations. Students will compare the two pictures, identify the differences on a Venn Diagram, and discuss their observations.
- To conclude the lesson, students will apply their learning by researching a historic building or business in their own town or region then create a brief presentation or visual poster that shows how that structure contributes to local history and identity.
Highsmith, Carol M. Old buildings in Fredericksburg, Texas. 1980 to 2006. Photograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2011633496/.