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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!

🎶 Our newest exhibition, "Play On! German Influence on QC Music History" is now on display in the 3rd floor gallery. We highlight some of the major names in local music history like Johann Strasser and Ernst Otto, as well as some artifacts and stories on loan from the @bixmuseum.

🍰 Check out our new exhibition and learn about Blues history this Sunday for our Kaffee und Kuchen program with musician Chris Stevens. Programs are included in regular museum admission rates. RSVP is recommended but walk ins are welcome. Link in bio.

🎶 Our newest exhibition, "Play On! German Influence on QC Music History" is now on display in the 3rd floor gallery. We highlight some of the major names in local music history like Johann Strasser and Ernst Otto, as well as some artifacts and stories on loan from the @bixmuseum.

🍰 Check out our new exhibition and learn about Blues history this Sunday for our Kaffee und Kuchen program with musician Chris Stevens. Programs are included in regular museum admission rates. RSVP is recommended but walk ins are welcome. Link in bio. …

In 2026, we celebrate the semiquincentennial (250) of the United States! Follow along as we highlight influential German immigrants throughout the history of the United States.

Our first individual is "Molly Pitcher." Mary Ludwig Hays was born in 1754 in New Jersey to German immigrants Maria Margaretha and Johann George Ludwig.

🪣 During the Revolutionary War, she joined her husband at the Battle of Monmouth in 1778. She brought water to cool the canons and helped parched soldiers in their fight against the British. After her husband was wounded, she took over his canon and continued to fire it. Her nickname is said to have arisen from the troops calling for aid – “Molly, pitcher!” She was commended by George Washington and was the first woman to be awarded a military pension from the US Congress.

Molly was a common nickname for Mary in the Revolutionary time period. Historians are not 100% sure that it was Mary Hays, but there are several accounts of women helping the revolution. The name "Molly Pitcher" is considered a collective generic term, serving as a common label for the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of women who served not only as ammunition wives, manning and firing the guns, but also in the army and colonial militia.

Mary Hays passed away on this day, January 22, 1832. She is commemorated by markers in several places, including Monmouth Battle Monument in Freehold, New Jersey, and on her grave in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

📷 Image from the Library of Congress.

In 2026, we celebrate the semiquincentennial (250) of the United States! Follow along as we highlight influential German immigrants throughout the history of the United States.

Our first individual is "Molly Pitcher." Mary Ludwig Hays was born in 1754 in New Jersey to German immigrants Maria Margaretha and Johann George Ludwig.

🪣 During the Revolutionary War, she joined her husband at the Battle of Monmouth in 1778. She brought water to cool the canons and helped parched soldiers in their fight against the British. After her husband was wounded, she took over his canon and continued to fire it. Her nickname is said to have arisen from the troops calling for aid – “Molly, pitcher!” She was commended by George Washington and was the first woman to be awarded a military pension from the US Congress.

Molly was a common nickname for Mary in the Revolutionary time period. Historians are not 100% sure that it was Mary Hays, but there are several accounts of women helping the revolution. The name "Molly Pitcher" is considered a collective generic term, serving as a common label for the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of women who served not only as ammunition wives, manning and firing the guns, but also in the army and colonial militia.

Mary Hays passed away on this day, January 22, 1832. She is commemorated by markers in several places, including Monmouth Battle Monument in Freehold, New Jersey, and on her grave in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

📷 Image from the Library of Congress. …

➡️ COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE
FREE ADMISSION

January 16-18, 2026
Friday & Saturday open 10 am - 4 pm
Sunday open 12-4 pm

Join us for our annual Community Open House and visit our exhibitions free of charge. Including our permanent exhibition, The German Immigrant Experience, interactive children's space, and rotating exhibition, Play On! German Immigrants and the Quad Cities' Musical Legacy.

🛍️ Stop by for special deals on new memberships and a raffle with a purchase in the gift shop.

🧝👺 Visit us on Sunday 1/18 for a special 'Perchten Faire' celebration from 2-5 pm. "Perchten" is an ancient pagan festival, meant to drive out the 'devils of winter' in early December with a 'Perchtenlauf' or parade of these devil like creatures through the centre of villages.

Originating in central Europe and carried down across the centuries, it's a tradition strongly associated with the Alpine regions and the midwinter need to drive out bad souls.

Join us on the 4th floor for folk stories, poetry readings, a barter and trade corner market, porridge tastings, and more. Costumes or masks encouraged. German beer available for purchase. 21+.

➡️ COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE
FREE ADMISSION

January 16-18, 2026
Friday & Saturday open 10 am – 4 pm
Sunday open 12-4 pm

Join us for our annual Community Open House and visit our exhibitions free of charge. Including our permanent exhibition, The German Immigrant Experience, interactive children`s space, and rotating exhibition, Play On! German Immigrants and the Quad Cities` Musical Legacy.

🛍️ Stop by for special deals on new memberships and a raffle with a purchase in the gift shop.

🧝👺 Visit us on Sunday 1/18 for a special `Perchten Faire` celebration from 2-5 pm. "Perchten" is an ancient pagan festival, meant to drive out the `devils of winter` in early December with a `Perchtenlauf` or parade of these devil like creatures through the centre of villages.

Originating in central Europe and carried down across the centuries, it`s a tradition strongly associated with the Alpine regions and the midwinter need to drive out bad souls.

Join us on the 4th floor for folk stories, poetry readings, a barter and trade corner market, porridge tastings, and more. Costumes or masks encouraged. German beer available for purchase. 21+. …

Frohe Weihnachten und ein gutes neues Jahr!

This photo shows a family around the Christmas Tree in their home in 1910. It was donated to us by Collene Root, 2009.070.4A.

What holiday traditions have your family preserved through the generations? Have you started your own traditions?

Frohe Weihnachten und ein gutes neues Jahr!

This photo shows a family around the Christmas Tree in their home in 1910. It was donated to us by Collene Root, 2009.070.4A.

What holiday traditions have your family preserved through the generations? Have you started your own traditions? …

Ever wonder how we install the largest advent calendar in the Midwest?

This is our 10th year of lighting up the building in December with designs made by the 7th grade students at the @creativeartsacademyqc. Each day we unveil a new design with a countdown to Christmas! Drive by in the evening to see all the designs lit up until January 6th.

Thank you @germanyinmidwest and @edscreative for their partnership and support!
#museum #german #asmr #iowa

Ever wonder how we install the largest advent calendar in the Midwest?

This is our 10th year of lighting up the building in December with designs made by the 7th grade students at the @creativeartsacademyqc. Each day we unveil a new design with a countdown to Christmas! Drive by in the evening to see all the designs lit up until January 6th.

Thank you @germanyinmidwest and @edscreative for their partnership and support!
#museum #german #asmr #iowa …

🎄 We will be CLOSED from December 24th-January 1st for a staff break and to enjoy the holidays. Thank you for making 2025 a wonderful and exciting year here at the GAHC+M.

🛍️ The last day to shop this holiday season is tomorrow, Tuesday December 23rd. Get last-minute sweets, ornaments, smokers, nutcrackers and check out our museum exhibitions.

🥒 It is also the last day to pick up your prize pickle here for the Downtown Davenport holiday pickle hunt! If you are unable to make it here, the Main branch of the Davenport Library has more, while supplies last.

🎆 Frohe Weihnachten und ein gutes neues Jahr!

🎄 We will be CLOSED from December 24th-January 1st for a staff break and to enjoy the holidays. Thank you for making 2025 a wonderful and exciting year here at the GAHC+M.

🛍️ The last day to shop this holiday season is tomorrow, Tuesday December 23rd. Get last-minute sweets, ornaments, smokers, nutcrackers and check out our museum exhibitions.

🥒 It is also the last day to pick up your prize pickle here for the Downtown Davenport holiday pickle hunt! If you are unable to make it here, the Main branch of the Davenport Library has more, while supplies last.

🎆 Frohe Weihnachten und ein gutes neues Jahr! …

✨ This is our 10th year of collaborating with @creativeartsacademyqc for our advent calendar windows and project with the 7th grade students. The students work on artwork, digital designs, dance, and theater productions to perform and show at the showcase for their families.

Our advent calendar designs are unveiled, one-by-one, each day in December. This year, our theme was German immigrant contributions to the Quad Cities. Students visited the museum, researched, and designed their pieces to reflect the many businesses, resources, and professions held by immigrants in our community. This was a wonderful way for students to spend time learning about local history which is mostly overlooked in typical school curriculum.

The students used their creativity to develop designs, paintings, and performances depending on which arts program they are enrolled in. Thank you to @germanyinmidwest and @edscreative for their support of this project.

Danke Schön!

✨ This is our 10th year of collaborating with @creativeartsacademyqc for our advent calendar windows and project with the 7th grade students. The students work on artwork, digital designs, dance, and theater productions to perform and show at the showcase for their families.

Our advent calendar designs are unveiled, one-by-one, each day in December. This year, our theme was German immigrant contributions to the Quad Cities. Students visited the museum, researched, and designed their pieces to reflect the many businesses, resources, and professions held by immigrants in our community. This was a wonderful way for students to spend time learning about local history which is mostly overlooked in typical school curriculum.

The students used their creativity to develop designs, paintings, and performances depending on which arts program they are enrolled in. Thank you to @germanyinmidwest and @edscreative for their support of this project.

Danke Schön! …

Meet our Christkindlmarkt vendors!

Trixie's Tipsy Teapots has seasonal home decor items, coasters & luminaries decorated with pressed flowers and leaves, upcycled crayons, and yard art called Tipsy Teapots.

❄️ Christkindlmarkt Quad Cities
Saturday December 13th, 2025
10 am - 6 pm
📍German American Heritage Center and Museum
712 W 2nd St. Davenport, Iowa

Meet our Christkindlmarkt vendors!

Trixie`s Tipsy Teapots has seasonal home decor items, coasters & luminaries decorated with pressed flowers and leaves, upcycled crayons, and yard art called Tipsy Teapots.

❄️ Christkindlmarkt Quad Cities
Saturday December 13th, 2025
10 am – 6 pm
📍German American Heritage Center and Museum
712 W 2nd St. Davenport, Iowa …

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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