Region: South Texas Plains
On the National Register of Historic Places as the oldest permanent Polish
settlement in America, it is certainly the mother of Polish settlements in
Texas—established in December 1854 by Polish Catholics. Because of a deep
devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, immigrants named the town Panna Maria,
meaning Virgin Mary in Polish. Early years of the colony were difficult, plagued
by disease, climate extremes and outlaws. Neighboring cowboys often ridiculed
the strange, non-English-speaking foreigners. The community established the
first Polish school in the United States, and other villages like Cestohowa,
Pawelekville and Kosciusko sprang from this original settlement.
The Panna Maria Historical Society is housed in the 1875 Pilarczyk Store.
Souvenirs, handmade crafts, religious articles, local foods, information and
guided tours are available. A bed-and-breakfast facility is available in a
convent no longer used by the nuns.
Visit the community cemetery and Immaculate Conception Catholic Church,
topped by a cross carried from Poland by the original colonists more than 150
years ago. During the renovation of the church in 2000, the old painted ceiling
was restored. Open daily. Southeast of San Antonio, just off Texas 123 between
Stockdale and Karnes City; near Helena ghost town. (See Helena.)