Kick off the holiday season with us!
The holiday season begins at the new German American Heritage Center & Museum with several programs, a European Christmas Village exhibit, and the Christikindlmart Holiday Market. Programs and workshops also include access to the new interactive permanent exhibit, “The German-American Immigrant Experience.”
This Sunday, November 8 at 2 p.m., visitors will enjoy a presentation that explores the history of the 1854 Davenport Shooting Association. The group traces it roots to 1854, when a number of immigrants following the traditions of their homeland formed a club for rifle practice. The Davenport Sheutzenverein (Davenport Shooting Association) is a Single shot rifle club in the German tradition. The program is free with museum admission or free to museum members.
On November 14, a Scherenschnitte (art of paper cutting) Workshop will be offered at 2 pm. Scherenschnitte is the German word for the art of scissors snipping or paper cutting. Germans settling in Pennsylvania created paper cuttings which were used for Christmas ornaments and home decoration. Reservations are required in advance by calling the German American Heritage Center at (563) 322-8844. The cost for the workshop is $5 for museum members and $10 for nonmembers.
A new exhibit, “Christmas Villages of Germany, Austria and Slovenia” opens to public on November 20 and runs through December 23. The exhibit is free with museum admission (A member-only preview of the exhibit will be held on November 19 from 4:30 – 7 p.m.). The Christmas Village exhibit includes the Bethlehem Christmas village and Nativity scene and is the collection of Arlene Rose Considine, of Clinton, Iowa. Over the years, she found these treasures in Christmas markets, antique shops and flea markets in Slovenia, Austria and Germany. A seven foot German feather tree, decorated with antique ornaments from 1850s-1920s will also be on display.
The German Christikindlmart Holiday Market begins on November 21 and runs through December 23 at the museum’s gift shop. The market offers unique imported gift items from Germany including nutcrackers, smokers, steins, linens, crystal, candles, tree toppers, inge-glass ornaments and more! The museum is also offering holiday gift memberships at $5 off regular membership prices.
The annual Zither and Bell Choir Concert will be held on December 6 at 2:00 p.m. at the museum. The concert is free with museum admission or free to museum members.
On December 8, the museum will host a free Christmas Sing-a-long at 7 p.m. at the museum. This program does not include access to the exhibits since there is no charge.
On November 19, in partnership with the Bettendorf library, the German American Heritage Center will present the film, Joyeux Noel at the Bettendorf library from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Military historian George Eaton will introduce the film Joyeux Noel as we commemorate the 95th anniversary of three armies’ “Christmas Eve truce” in World War I. The film is free and open to the public.
Admission and hours to the museum is as follows:
Adults: $5
Seniors:$4
Children: $3 (5 - 17 years old)
Free for children under 5
Members: Free (Admission is free all year for museum members)
Hours:
Tuesdays through Saturday open 10 am - 4 pm; Sunday open 12 - 4 pm.
The German American Heritage Center is located at the foot of Centennial Bridge in Davenport, Iowa at 712 West Second Street, Davenport, Iowa.
For more information please visit www.gahc.org for photos, videos, programs, and events.
Membership levels and benefits to the museum are shown below:
(Download membership form)
-Quarterly issues Infoblatt
-Free admission to many programs
-Free admission to the new permanent exhibit,
“The German-American Experience” (NEW)
-Special member-only exhibit preview events (NEW)
-Free admission and/or discounts to special exhibits
-10% discount at the gift shop
-Discounts on classes, events, and trips
-Discount to facility rental (NEW)
MEMBERSHIP
(Download membership form)
-INDIVIDUAL $35
-COUPLE $45 (TWO ADULTS IN SAME HOUSEHOLD)
-HOUSEHOLD $55 (UP TO TWO ADULTS & CHILDREN IN SAME HOUSEHOLD)
-GRANDPARENTS $55 (UP TO TWO GRANDPARENTS & THEIR GRANDCHILDREN)
LIFE MEMBER INDIVIUDAL $1,000 (OR $1,500 FOR A TWO ADULTS IN SAME HOUSEHOLD)
Angela Hunt, Executive Director
German American Heritage Center
Email: ach@gahc.org
Phone: 563-322-8844
Website: www.gahc.org
Museum Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday, 12 - 4 p.m.
