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    • TOURS
    • Accessibility
    • HOURS & LOCATION
    • BECOME A MEMBER
    • ADMISSION
    • GIFT SHOP
  • Exhibits
    • The German Immigrant Experience
    • German Expressionist Prints
    • The Prints of David and Sarojini Johnson
    • Past Exhibitions
  • Learn
    • GAHC From Home
    • Internships
    • Resources
    • Translation Services
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Beer Beyond Germany: History of Brewing in the QC

Beer Beyond Germany: History of Brewing in the QC

Plan your visit

June 2nd – October 20th, 2024

3rd Floor Gallery

German immigrants brought many skills and trades to Scott County, especially brewing. Historic German breweries had a huge impact on the lives of Scott County citizens in their time and the effect continues to the present day. 

Learn about historic breweries, how prohibition led to creative business ventures, and the booming brewing industry after the repeal of prohibition in the 1930s.

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German American Heritage Center and Museum

germanamericanheritagecenter

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Museum exploring the German immigrant experience and history of Davenport and Iowa!

Open
Visit the German American Heritage Center and Museum on Saturday for free admission and special deals:
🎃  Downtown Davenport's Spooky Spectacular Candy Crawl!
🎟️ FREE admission to the museum
🛍️ 10% off all gift shop purchases
👻 and a special presentation-style version of our Darker Side of Davenport Tour at 10:30!

Learn about local history, attend one of our programs, see our exhibitions and learn about immigrants to the Quad Cities, See German Expressionist Prints, and more artwork from David and Sarojini Johnson. 

🔑 Get a free print from local artist Joseph Lappie when you mention it at the front desk!

Visit the German American Heritage Center and Museum on Saturday for free admission and special deals:
🎃 Downtown Davenport`s Spooky Spectacular Candy Crawl!
🎟️ FREE admission to the museum
🛍️ 10% off all gift shop purchases
👻 and a special presentation-style version of our Darker Side of Davenport Tour at 10:30!

Learn about local history, attend one of our programs, see our exhibitions and learn about immigrants to the Quad Cities, See German Expressionist Prints, and more artwork from David and Sarojini Johnson.

🔑 Get a free print from local artist Joseph Lappie when you mention it at the front desk!
…

Open
Sunday October 26th is our next Kaffee und Kuchen: The Wicked and the Weird with John Brassard Jr.  This program is free for members or included with general admission. RSVP online or get tickets at the door. Learn about some wicked and weird true crime stories from one of our favorite local authors! 

Also, check out John's books in our gift shop, 10% off for #QCMuseumMonth!
Quad Cities Strange and Dreadful Things

Sunday October 26th is our next Kaffee und Kuchen: The Wicked and the Weird with John Brassard Jr. This program is free for members or included with general admission. RSVP online or get tickets at the door. Learn about some wicked and weird true crime stories from one of our favorite local authors!

Also, check out John`s books in our gift shop, 10% off for #QCMuseumMonth!
Quad Cities Strange and Dreadful Things
…

Open
Join us for a spine‑tingling stroll through Downtown Davenport on Saturday, October 25 from 12-3 p.m.

Get ready for a frightfully fun afternoon in Downtown Davenport! The Spooky Spectacular & Candy Crawl is a family-friendly Halloween event filled with treats, photo ops and festive surprises around every corner.

Local businesses will be handing out candy, offering fall-inspired specials, hosting spooky sales and creating unique Halloween experiences throughout downtown.

Visit the German American Heritage Center and Museum on Saturday for special deals:
🎟️ FREE admission
🛍️ 10% off all gift shop purchases
👻 and a special presentation-style version of our Darker Side of Davenport Tour at 10:30!

HOW IT WORKS:
Dress in your best Halloween costume
Pick up an event map at any participating business
Stroll through downtown, collect treats and enjoy all the spooky fun our local businesses have in store!

Join us for a spine‑tingling stroll through Downtown Davenport on Saturday, October 25 from 12-3 p.m.

Get ready for a frightfully fun afternoon in Downtown Davenport! The Spooky Spectacular & Candy Crawl is a family-friendly Halloween event filled with treats, photo ops and festive surprises around every corner.

Local businesses will be handing out candy, offering fall-inspired specials, hosting spooky sales and creating unique Halloween experiences throughout downtown.

Visit the German American Heritage Center and Museum on Saturday for special deals:
🎟️ FREE admission
🛍️ 10% off all gift shop purchases
👻 and a special presentation-style version of our Darker Side of Davenport Tour at 10:30!

HOW IT WORKS:
Dress in your best Halloween costume
Pick up an event map at any participating business
Stroll through downtown, collect treats and enjoy all the spooky fun our local businesses have in store!
…

Open
Back from the collections with this photograph of a man outside of Tony Hertzner's Bar, Davenport, Iowa. 1880-1900's. There is not much on the photo or the business as far as we know, we just think you might enjoy this photograph too!

Stop by this month to learn more about German Immigrants in the Quad Cities. 
We are open Tuesday-Saturday 10 AM - 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM - 4 PM
Closed on Monday

This month we are offering FREE admission on Saturdays during #QCMuseumMonth @visitquadcities

Back from the collections with this photograph of a man outside of Tony Hertzner`s Bar, Davenport, Iowa. 1880-1900`s. There is not much on the photo or the business as far as we know, we just think you might enjoy this photograph too!

Stop by this month to learn more about German Immigrants in the Quad Cities.
We are open Tuesday-Saturday 10 AM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 4 PM
Closed on Monday

This month we are offering FREE admission on Saturdays during #QCMuseumMonth @visitquadcities
…

Open
🥃Otto Koechert was well known in the Tri-City area. He immigrated from Germany in 1870. It is unclear what Otto did in his free time, he most likely spent time with friends, perhaps spending Sunday afternoons at Schuetzen Park. As time went on, he frequented the saloons more often, and enjoyed alcoholic beverages, often overindulging. According to newspapers, he was "working as a clerk during the first few years of his residence, but showing no ambition and gradually drifting from bad to worse...One who knew him says that he would remain intoxicated for days at a time, until he apparently tired of that condition and would have a sober spell for a few days."

Otto died on March 10th, 1891, in the Germania House, his place of residence. His body found by the proprietress, who noted that he didn't even take off his shoes before falling into bed.  His death was likely result from a stroke induced by overindulgence of alcohol.

712 W. 2nd Street — a historic address that has stood witness to the dramatic and sometimes chilling evolution of Downtown Davenport since the Germania House was first built on this site in 1862. From a string of barbershop murders and a fire at a mental hospital to ghostly sightings at City Hall and séances on a college campus, this former hotel has seen it all. And it has its own dark and fascinating tales to share.

👻According to staff, Otto is our resident ghost. You can share your respects to him on our Darker Side of Davenport Walking Tours this month. The walking tours continue tomorrow at 6pm. 

🎟️Reserve your tickets here: https://events.humanitix.com/darker-side-of-davenport-walking-tours-6386427j

🥃Otto Koechert was well known in the Tri-City area. He immigrated from Germany in 1870. It is unclear what Otto did in his free time, he most likely spent time with friends, perhaps spending Sunday afternoons at Schuetzen Park. As time went on, he frequented the saloons more often, and enjoyed alcoholic beverages, often overindulging. According to newspapers, he was "working as a clerk during the first few years of his residence, but showing no ambition and gradually drifting from bad to worse…One who knew him says that he would remain intoxicated for days at a time, until he apparently tired of that condition and would have a sober spell for a few days."

Otto died on March 10th, 1891, in the Germania House, his place of residence. His body found by the proprietress, who noted that he didn`t even take off his shoes before falling into bed. His death was likely result from a stroke induced by overindulgence of alcohol.

712 W. 2nd Street — a historic address that has stood witness to the dramatic and sometimes chilling evolution of Downtown Davenport since the Germania House was first built on this site in 1862. From a string of barbershop murders and a fire at a mental hospital to ghostly sightings at City Hall and séances on a college campus, this former hotel has seen it all. And it has its own dark and fascinating tales to share.

👻According to staff, Otto is our resident ghost. You can share your respects to him on our Darker Side of Davenport Walking Tours this month. The walking tours continue tomorrow at 6pm.

🎟️Reserve your tickets here: https://events.humanitix.com/darker-side-of-davenport-walking-tours-6386427j
…

Open
Save the Date for Christkindlmarkt Quad Cities! This free annual event celebrates the holiday season with a focus on German heritage. Like traditional winter markets around the world, the Quad Cities Christkindlmarkt is an indoor/outdoor artisan craft and gift market with live music, local foods, and local performances.

🗓️ Saturday December 13th, 2025 10 am – 6 pm.
📍 712 W 2nd Street Davenport, IA 52802

🏛️ The museum is free and open to the public all day long.
🎅 👹 Special appearances by Santa and Krampus!
🎶 Live music throughout the day.
❄️ Get Christkindlmarkt merch, try our homemade Glühwien or a German beer, and shop local vendors!

🛍️ Interested in being a vendor? Complete our vendor application by November 1st. https://forms.gle/3BozYeDu5XE6RiJM6

Save the Date for Christkindlmarkt Quad Cities! This free annual event celebrates the holiday season with a focus on German heritage. Like traditional winter markets around the world, the Quad Cities Christkindlmarkt is an indoor/outdoor artisan craft and gift market with live music, local foods, and local performances.

🗓️ Saturday December 13th, 2025 10 am – 6 pm.
📍 712 W 2nd Street Davenport, IA 52802

🏛️ The museum is free and open to the public all day long.
🎅 👹 Special appearances by Santa and Krampus!
🎶 Live music throughout the day.
❄️ Get Christkindlmarkt merch, try our homemade Glühwien or a German beer, and shop local vendors!

🛍️ Interested in being a vendor? Complete our vendor application by November 1st. https://forms.gle/3BozYeDu5XE6RiJM6
…

Open
This month is busy at the museum! Check out our upcoming events and register online here: https://events.humanitix.com/host/german-american-heritage-center-and-museum
🏛️ Darker Side of Davenport Walking Tours
🎟️ QC Museum Month
🍰 Kaffee und Kuchen Lecture Series
🎞️ Darker Side of Davenport "Sitting Tour"
📜 QC Archives Fair

This month is busy at the museum! Check out our upcoming events and register online here: https://events.humanitix.com/host/german-american-heritage-center-and-museum
🏛️ Darker Side of Davenport Walking Tours
🎟️ QC Museum Month
🍰 Kaffee und Kuchen Lecture Series
🎞️ Darker Side of Davenport "Sitting Tour"
📜 QC Archives Fair
…

Open
October 6th is #GermanAmericanDay! Today we celebrate German-American heritage. Recognized as a National Holiday by Ronald Reagan on October 6th, 1987, this holiday recognizes the first Germans who settled in Pennsylvania, establishing Germantown. 

30 years ago, William J. Clinton made Proclamation 6834, affirming Reagan's recognition of October 6th as German American day, stating; "Since the earliest days of the settlement of North America, immigrants from Germany have enriched our Nation with their industry, culture, and participation in public life."

You can learn more about German Heritage in America by visiting us! 
Tuesday-Saturday from 10pm-4pm, Sunday 12pm-4pm, we are closed Monday.

Photos from German American Heritage Center and Museum Collection.
You can find Proclamation 6834, in full, on the American Presidency Project's website.

October 6th is #GermanAmericanDay! Today we celebrate German-American heritage. Recognized as a National Holiday by Ronald Reagan on October 6th, 1987, this holiday recognizes the first Germans who settled in Pennsylvania, establishing Germantown.

30 years ago, William J. Clinton made Proclamation 6834, affirming Reagan`s recognition of October 6th as German American day, stating; "Since the earliest days of the settlement of North America, immigrants from Germany have enriched our Nation with their industry, culture, and participation in public life."

You can learn more about German Heritage in America by visiting us!
Tuesday-Saturday from 10pm-4pm, Sunday 12pm-4pm, we are closed Monday.

Photos from German American Heritage Center and Museum Collection.
You can find Proclamation 6834, in full, on the American Presidency Project`s website.
…

VISIT US

German American Heritage Center & Museum
712 W 2nd St.
Davenport, IA 52802

HOURS

Tuesdays – Saturdays open 10 am – 4 pm
Sundays open 12 – 4 pm
Closed Mondays

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German American Heritage Center & Museum
712 W 2nd St.
Davenport, IA 52802
Tuesdays – Saturdays open 10 am – 4 pm
Sundays open 12 – 4 pm
Closed Mondays

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