When you think of Massachusetts, the first thing that might come to mind is the rich tapestry of American history that’s woven into its cities and towns. But did you know that there’s also a strong German influence that’s left an indelible mark on its historical sites? From architecture to cuisine, German immigrants have greatly influenced the Bay State. They’ve left…
Category: Celebrating German Culture in America
Anaheim’s German History- A German Home by the Santa Ana River
Most people don’t think about German-American history when they think about Southern California. Pennsylvania, of course, Wisconsin, naturally, but California? YES! Anaheim’s German History is a great story. The city of Anaheim began as a colony of Germans! (Yes, Anaheim, home to the House of Mouse). In 1857, 50 Germans, formed an association called the Los Angeles Vineyard Company and…
A Visit to Ellis Island- Ellis Island Immigrants from Germany
A few years ago I visited the Bremerhaven Auswandererhaus (Emigration Museum), this year I paid a visit to Ellis Island, where many of the immigrants landed on the other side of the Atlantic. The museum houses the other half of the immigration story. I went, unsure of how much German history I would see, after all, Ellis Island acted as…
The General Slocum Disaster of 1904- A German-American Tragedy
1021 people, mostly women and children perished in the General Slocum Disaster of 1904. And yet, the tragedy is mostly forgotten. Kleindeutschland (Little Deutschland) in New York City thrived through the 1800s into the turn of the century. German-Americans lived, worked, shopped, and worshipped in this thriving neighborhood. Then on June 15, 1904, 1358 people climbed aboard the General…
A Visit to the German American Heritage Museum
The German American Heritage Museum may be one of the smaller museums in Washington DC. Still, their efforts to preserve the history of Germans in America make up for its tiny footprint. (Plus I firmly believe that small museums are the best.) Since 2010, the museum has occupied Hockemeyer Hall on 6th Street NW, in the Penn Quarter just a…
Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift Washington DC
On May 21, 2024, I was honored to represent the Berlin Airlift Remembrance Alliance at the Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. The event took place in the shadow of the imposing towers of the US Air Force Memorial in Washington DC. Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift Washington DC The Ambassador of the…
Work, Live, Explore: Comparing Life in Germany and the UK
Moving overseas is a big decision. Thanks to Dan for this sponsored post on Comparing Life in Germany and the UK. Some interesting food for thought for anyone considering making the move to Europe to study or live, but can’t decide which direction to go. Finding a place in the world that suits your personality and lifestyle isn’t that easy,…
German Language Summer Camps and Programs
What do you do with the kids all summer? German Language Summer Camps and German Language summer programs are a great way to fill those empty Summer months. They come away with improved language skills … and they have fun doing it! These German Summer Camps are scattered across the country. Some are day camps, others are overnight. There is…
Francis Daniel Pastorius- The Pennsylvania Pilgrim
The name Francis Daniel Pastorius probably didn’t come up in your American History classes, and he’s probably no more than a footnote in most German history classes… but Pastorius plays a major role in early American history, in German-American immigration history, and even has a role in the Abolitionist Movement. So who was he? A polymath, lawyer, writer, teacher, a…
A Visit to the Heurich House Museum in Washington DC
In the early 1940’s, German-American Brewer, Christian Heurich, owned more land and employed more people in Washington DC than any entity other than the Federal Government. An amazing accomplishment for a man who came to the United States from the small village of Haina in the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen in 1866 with only $200 in his pocket. His mansion, now…