Event Calendar

The new year kicks off with many new exciting programs, events and exhibits at the German American Heritage Center & Museum! Explore our calendar below, and check back often as new programs will be added throughout the year.

Zither Ensemble Practice: Every Saturday except holidays
Enjoy watching and listening to our zither ensemble practice every Saturday at 10 am on the fourth floor of the museum. Free with museum admission; Free for members.

JULY

Celebrating Mendelssohn: Composer and Conductor Extraordinaire
Sunday, July 11 at 2:00 p.m.
Cost: Free with museum admission; Free for members.
Presented by Don Wooten
Felix Mendelssohn, conductor and composer extraordinaire from Germany, is best known for his overture of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” or the “Wedding March.” Mendelssohn has been compared to the likes of Mozart and Bach, and is said to be one of the most influential of his time. During his career he composed eleven symphonies, five operas, and additional piano pieces.

Trip to German Fest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Saturday, July 24
Click here for more details.

School Cones: A German Tradition Comes to the Quad Cities
Sunday July 25 at 2:00 p.m.
Cost: Free with museum admission; Free for members.
Presented by Julie Wall of Trinity Lutheran School
Since the early 19th century, the rite of passage for children in German speaking areas as they entered formal schooling was celebrated with the gifting of School Cones (Schultüten) on the first day of school. Julie Wall, artist in residence at Trinity Lutheran School in Davenport, is working with her students to bring this tradition to the Quad Cities.

German-Wends Cultural Festival
Saturday, August 21
Cost: Free with museum admission; Free for members
Join us for a full day of Wendish cultural demonstrations, music, dancing and more! In addition visitors can explore the museum’s 4,000 square feet of exhibits where you will enjoy an interactive experience as they learn about immigrants’ journey by sea, train and foot, to their final destination at the German American Heritage Center building, which was originally a very busy hotel for thousands of immigrants in the 1860s.

SEPTEMBER
Book Discussion
Tuesday, September 21 at 7:00 p.m.
Title and leader: TBA

Terrorism: A Topic in German Film
Saturday, September 25 at 2:00 p.m.
Presented by Therese Grisham
Cost: Free with museum admission; Free for members
Terrorism has become an all too familiar topic in recent years. Germany too has dealt with terrorism both foreign and domestic. Therese Grisham, from the Columbia College Chicago Film & Video Department, will explore how this unsettling topic has been dealt with by German film makers. Clips will be shown from selected films leading to the viewing of a full length feature film at the Bettendorf Public Library.

OCTOBER
Christmas Ornament Workshops
October Dates TBA

Trip to Mustard Museum in Middleton, Wisconsin
Saturday, October 16
Cost: TBA

NOVEMBER
Book Discussion
Tuesday, November 16 at 7:00 p.m.
Title and leader: TBA

DECEMBER
Zither & Handbell Choir concert
Sunday, December 5 at 2:00 p.m.
Cost: $5 or free to GAHC museum members
Scott County Family Y in downtown Davenport

Trip to Christmas Market in Chicago, Illinois
December Date TBA
Cost: TBA