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  • Visit
    • TOURS
    • Accessibility
    • HOURS & LOCATION
    • BECOME A MEMBER
    • ADMISSION
    • GIFT SHOP
  • Exhibits
    • The German Immigrant Experience
    • Play On! German Immigrants and the Quad Cities’ Musical Legacy
    • Violins of Hope Iowa
    • Past Exhibitions
  • Learn
    • GAHC From Home
    • Internships
    • Volunteer
    • Resources
    • Translation Services
    • Book Discussions​
    • Travel
  • Events
  • About
    • About Us
    • Collections
    • DEAI Statement
    • Staff
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Newsletter
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
  • Private Events
  • Donate

Past Exhibitions

Past Exhibitions

View our past exhibitions

We are happy to bring new, fresh, exhibitions to the museum multiple times a year. Scroll below to view our past exhibtions.

Past Exhibtions

Some of our exhibitions are available for rental. To inquire about borrowing an original exhibition from the GAHC&M, contact [email protected].

+ Available for rental

The Prints of David and Sarojini Johnson 
July 19th, 2025 – January 4th, 2026

German Expressionist Prints from the Johnson Collection 
June 21st – December 14th, 2025

What’s New? Recent Acquisitions to the Collection February 15 – June 1, 2025

With You, I Am Myself January 12 – April 6, 2025

Beer Beyond Germany: History of Brewing in the Quad Cities June 2 – October 20, 2024

Immigration Then and Now: Finding Refuge in the Quad Cities May 26 – September 15, 2024

Sweet Treats: German Influence on the QC Candy Industry March 5 – May 19, 2024

Breaking Barriers: Walls Throughout History February 6- May 5, 2024

Art from the Archives September 10, 2023 – February 18, 2024

Klassiks for Kinder: German Toys with Joy August 13th, 2023 – January 7th, 2024

Los Desconocidos: The Migrant Quilt Project May 30th – August 27th, 2023

Todos Somos Luchadores Inmigrantes – We Are All Immigrant Warriors  June 13th– August 27th, 2023

Neighbors to the North: German Influence in New Ulm, Minnesota March 12th – July 30th, 2023

+ Preserving a Dyeing Art: German Blueprint September 18th, 2022 – May 21st, 2023

The White Rose Student Resistance Against Hitler: Munich, 1942-43 October 2nd, 2022 – February 26th, 2023

Witness to the Holocaust: The Mattes Family Letters October 16th-November 27th, 2022

Our Neighbors, Our Friends: Unsere Nachbarn, Unsere Freunde February 18th – September 18th, 2022

+ Hidden Habsburgs: Immigrants in Iowa, 1846-1868 April 24th – August 28th, 2022

Jugendstil: Art for All July 11th, 2021 – January 9th, 2022

Power Frauen February 16th – June 14th, 2020

GoldCoast Glass: Works from the German Home November 3rd, 2019 – January 12th, 2020

Better than Sliced Bread: German Scientists and Inventors June 9th – October 27th, 2019

An Austrian Overture: Classical Composers May 19th – September 15th 2019

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German American Heritage Center and Museum

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

Open
We were thrilled to welcome Thomas Meinecke to Davenport on Saturday evening for a special program celebrating Bix Beiderbecke and his music. 

Thomas bought his first jazz record in Germany when he was 14 with pocket change. He quickly fell in love with Bix Beiderbecke and his music. This sparked a lifelong interest in American Jazz, music, and Bix's life. He even recounted tearing a page out of a library book in his youth because it had Bix's portrait on it, and he wanted to hang it in his room!

Now a novelist and Radio DJ, his love of music has shaped his career. This spring he is traveling the United States with the Goethe-Institut to promote his books. During a few days off this weekend, Thomas was excited to make a side trip to Davenport to visit Bix's hometown. Thank you @goetheinstitut.chicago for collaborating with us and making this event possible. We are so thrilled to make international connections and bring exciting events here to the museum. Vielen Dank! 🇩🇪 🇺🇸

We were thrilled to welcome Thomas Meinecke to Davenport on Saturday evening for a special program celebrating Bix Beiderbecke and his music.

Thomas bought his first jazz record in Germany when he was 14 with pocket change. He quickly fell in love with Bix Beiderbecke and his music. This sparked a lifelong interest in American Jazz, music, and Bix`s life. He even recounted tearing a page out of a library book in his youth because it had Bix`s portrait on it, and he wanted to hang it in his room!

Now a novelist and Radio DJ, his love of music has shaped his career. This spring he is traveling the United States with the Goethe-Institut to promote his books. During a few days off this weekend, Thomas was excited to make a side trip to Davenport to visit Bix`s hometown. Thank you @goetheinstitut.chicago for collaborating with us and making this event possible. We are so thrilled to make international connections and bring exciting events here to the museum. Vielen Dank! 🇩🇪 🇺🇸
…

Open
What led to the Holocaust’s escalation? Dr. Robinson Yost breaks down the impact of Operation Barbarossa and why it remains a critical moment in history.

Join us for Kaffee und Kuchen on Sunday April 26th. Registration available online or at the door.

What led to the Holocaust’s escalation? Dr. Robinson Yost breaks down the impact of Operation Barbarossa and why it remains a critical moment in history.

Join us for Kaffee und Kuchen on Sunday April 26th. Registration available online or at the door.
…

Open
Have you seen the Violins of Hope yet?

The last day to view our exhibition is Sunday April 26th. Be sure to stop by and see them before they are gone!

Have you seen the Violins of Hope yet?

The last day to view our exhibition is Sunday April 26th. Be sure to stop by and see them before they are gone!
…

Open
Have you seen the Violins of Hope yet? 

The last day to see these incredible instruments is Sunday April 26th. Be sure to see them at the German American Heritage Center and Museum before they're gone!

Have you seen the Violins of Hope yet?

The last day to see these incredible instruments is Sunday April 26th. Be sure to see them at the German American Heritage Center and Museum before they`re gone!
…

Open
Join us for a FREE program at the German American Heritage Center and Museum in Davenport this Sunday, April 19th. 

In a work of historical fiction based on oral histories, Mary Swander dramatizes the trials of a young Amish man from Kalona, Iowa, who thought he was headed to the Rocky Mountains for a stint of public service as a smoke jumper in lieu of combat during World War II. Instead, he was led off the train by renegade soldiers and illegally imprisoned in a chicken coop with ten other men until the war’s end.

After the performance, join Mary Swander for a discussion about her writing process and the research that went into her new drama called Coop. She will explain object theatre and why she embraced it for this work. She will recount how she got the original idea for the show and the choices she made to bring the story to the stage, how both the set and the script were an act of discovery. She will also provide background on the Amish and the history of their stance of non-violent resistance throughout their history. 

Thank you to Humanities Iowa and the State Historical Society of Iowa for making this program possible. RSVP for this event online: https://events.humanitix.com/coop-a-story-of-an-amish-conscientious-objector

Join us for a FREE program at the German American Heritage Center and Museum in Davenport this Sunday, April 19th.

In a work of historical fiction based on oral histories, Mary Swander dramatizes the trials of a young Amish man from Kalona, Iowa, who thought he was headed to the Rocky Mountains for a stint of public service as a smoke jumper in lieu of combat during World War II. Instead, he was led off the train by renegade soldiers and illegally imprisoned in a chicken coop with ten other men until the war’s end.

After the performance, join Mary Swander for a discussion about her writing process and the research that went into her new drama called Coop. She will explain object theatre and why she embraced it for this work. She will recount how she got the original idea for the show and the choices she made to bring the story to the stage, how both the set and the script were an act of discovery. She will also provide background on the Amish and the history of their stance of non-violent resistance throughout their history.

Thank you to Humanities Iowa and the State Historical Society of Iowa for making this program possible. RSVP for this event online: https://events.humanitix.com/coop-a-story-of-an-amish-conscientious-objector
…

Open
Thomas Meinecke is a German novelist, musician, and Radio DJ. He was born in Hamburg in 1955 and lives in pre-alpine Bavaria south of Munich. His novels are always fueled by music, many kinds of music. The earliest was the music of renowned Davenport musician, Bix Beiderbecke.

"A poster of him with his cornet hung in my room when I was a teenager. On my tour across the United States in April with my novels, it is a dream come true to come to Davenport and listen to some of my favorite Bix records with you and talk about the mystery of his very special music."

Join us for an evening of refreshments, conversation, and listening sessions with Thomas Meinecke as he shares his love of music and Bix Beiderbecke. Thank you to the @goetheinstitut.chicago for making this program possible.

Doors 5:00
Program 5:30

Free and open to the public, suggested donation $10.
Cash Bar available.
RSVP here: https://events.humanitix.com/a-musical-evening-with-thomas-meinecke

Thomas Meinecke is a German novelist, musician, and Radio DJ. He was born in Hamburg in 1955 and lives in pre-alpine Bavaria south of Munich. His novels are always fueled by music, many kinds of music. The earliest was the music of renowned Davenport musician, Bix Beiderbecke.

"A poster of him with his cornet hung in my room when I was a teenager. On my tour across the United States in April with my novels, it is a dream come true to come to Davenport and listen to some of my favorite Bix records with you and talk about the mystery of his very special music."

Join us for an evening of refreshments, conversation, and listening sessions with Thomas Meinecke as he shares his love of music and Bix Beiderbecke. Thank you to the @goetheinstitut.chicago for making this program possible.

Doors 5:00
Program 5:30

Free and open to the public, suggested donation $10.
Cash Bar available.
RSVP here: https://events.humanitix.com/a-musical-evening-with-thomas-meinecke
…

Open
Join us for a FREE program at the German American Heritage Center and Museum in Davenport this Sunday, April 19th. 

In a work of historical fiction based on oral histories, Mary Swander dramatizes the trials of a young Amish man from Kalona, Iowa, who thought he was headed to the Rocky Mountains for a stint of public service as a smoke jumper in lieu of combat during World War II. Instead, he was led off the train by renegade soldiers and illegally imprisoned in a chicken coop with ten other men until the war’s end.

After the performance, join Mary Swander for a discussion about her writing process and the research that went into her new drama called Coop. She will explain object theatre and why she embraced it for this work. She will recount how she got the original idea for the show and the choices she made to bring the story to the stage, how both the set and the script were an act of discovery. She will also provide background on the Amish and the history of their stance of non-violent resistance throughout their history. 

Thank you to Humanities Iowa and the State Historical Society of Iowa for making this program possible.

Join us for a FREE program at the German American Heritage Center and Museum in Davenport this Sunday, April 19th.

In a work of historical fiction based on oral histories, Mary Swander dramatizes the trials of a young Amish man from Kalona, Iowa, who thought he was headed to the Rocky Mountains for a stint of public service as a smoke jumper in lieu of combat during World War II. Instead, he was led off the train by renegade soldiers and illegally imprisoned in a chicken coop with ten other men until the war’s end.

After the performance, join Mary Swander for a discussion about her writing process and the research that went into her new drama called Coop. She will explain object theatre and why she embraced it for this work. She will recount how she got the original idea for the show and the choices she made to bring the story to the stage, how both the set and the script were an act of discovery. She will also provide background on the Amish and the history of their stance of non-violent resistance throughout their history.

Thank you to Humanities Iowa and the State Historical Society of Iowa for making this program possible.
…

Open
We are once again participating in Birdies for Charity, which allows your donation to go even further. Because of you, every dollar raised through Birdies for Charity is matched, amplifying your contribution and ensuring that the museum thrives for years to come.

Because of supporters like you, we are able to continue bringing exciting exhibtions, lively events, and popular programs like Kaffee und Kuchen to the museum. Thank you for your generosity!

Donation links in bio.

We are once again participating in Birdies for Charity, which allows your donation to go even further. Because of you, every dollar raised through Birdies for Charity is matched, amplifying your contribution and ensuring that the museum thrives for years to come.

Because of supporters like you, we are able to continue bringing exciting exhibtions, lively events, and popular programs like Kaffee und Kuchen to the museum. Thank you for your generosity!

Donation links in bio.
…

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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