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  • Visit
    • TOURS
    • Accessibility
    • HOURS & LOCATION
    • BECOME A MEMBER
    • ADMISSION
    • GIFT SHOP
  • Exhibits
    • The German Immigrant Experience
    • German Expressionist Prints
    • Immigrant Innovators: The Fruehauf Trailer Company
    • Past Exhibitions
  • Learn
    • GAHC From Home
    • Internships
    • Resources
    • Translation Services
    • Book Discussions​
    • Travel
  • Events
  • About
    • About Us
    • DEAI Statement
    • Staff
    • Employment Opportunities
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Breaking Barriers: Walls throughout History

1st Floor Gallery

February 6th – May 5th, 2024

Throughout history, walls have played a significant role in shaping our world. From the battlements surrounding ancient cities to the bright lines dividing nations, these structures have been a constant presence in our lives. However, while walls might provide us with a sense of geographic and metaphoric certainty, the relationship between people and these structures is often more complicated than it appears.

Walls are not just physical structures. They can also be metaphorical, representing societal and cultural divisions that separate people. The notion of “us vs. them” has been reinforced by such walls, leading to conflict and discrimination.

For those living along the US/Mexico border, the hardening of this boundary has brought about changes that have both increased security for some and created more uncertainty for others. Similarly, the wall built by Israel to combat terrorism has instead become a symbol of oppression and occupation for Palestinians. And, while the Berlin Wall was once a source of tension between capitalist and communist leaders, everyday Berliners mourned the families they could no longer see.

Despite the origins of walls and borders, the stories they tell about those who live in their shadow are real. From the Great Wall of China to the Israel/West Bank barrier, Breaking Barriers: Walls Throughout History provides insight into the history and significance of these imposing infrastructural elements.

Companion Program:

Berlin: Before and After the Wall Fell with Russell Baldner

Sunday May 5th, 2024.  

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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
German Immigrants impacted American culture through food, fashion, music, and even education. How many of those things can you spot in this post?
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#germanimmigrants #meme #museum #germanamericanheritage #center #art #funny #like #immigrants #immigrant #history #historical #christmas #christmasinjuly #polka #buttons #vintage #antique

German Immigrants impacted American culture through food, fashion, music, and even education. How many of those things can you spot in this post?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
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#germanimmigrants #meme #museum #germanamericanheritage #center #art #funny #like #immigrants #immigrant #history #historical #christmas #christmasinjuly #polka #buttons #vintage #antique
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Open
Schuetzen Park Celebration
Sunday August 2nd | 1:00 pm
FREE

�The Schuetzen Park will continue its 155th anniversary celebration of the grand opening of the Park which took place in June 1870 with a free public concert. The Deutsche Polka Band will headline the event on Sunday August 2nd. Beginning at 1:00 food and drinks will be served, and the concert will commence at 2:00. Admission to the Park is always free.

Schuetzen Park is located at 700 Waverly Road in Davenport. More information can be obtained by calling: 563-449-2358 or by email: SchuetzenPark@yahoo.com.

Photo from Davenport Iowa History:
Schuetzen Park Club House - 1902
"The beautiful and inviting Club House at Schuetzen Park was under the care of Bruchman & Co. in 1902. August Bruchman and Fred Kuehl were lessees of the park, operating the saloon, restaurant, dancing pavilion and bowling alley. Fred Kuehl was the manager of the Turner Hall and the New Grand Opera House at Third and Scott streets, while his brother-in-law, August Bruchman, was the former head bartender at the Turner Hall. August and his wife Mary resided at Schuetzen Park."

Schuetzen Park Celebration
Sunday August 2nd | 1:00 pm
FREE

�The Schuetzen Park will continue its 155th anniversary celebration of the grand opening of the Park which took place in June 1870 with a free public concert. The Deutsche Polka Band will headline the event on Sunday August 2nd. Beginning at 1:00 food and drinks will be served, and the concert will commence at 2:00. Admission to the Park is always free.

Schuetzen Park is located at 700 Waverly Road in Davenport. More information can be obtained by calling: 563-449-2358 or by email: [email protected].

Photo from Davenport Iowa History:
Schuetzen Park Club House – 1902
"The beautiful and inviting Club House at Schuetzen Park was under the care of Bruchman & Co. in 1902. August Bruchman and Fred Kuehl were lessees of the park, operating the saloon, restaurant, dancing pavilion and bowling alley. Fred Kuehl was the manager of the Turner Hall and the New Grand Opera House at Third and Scott streets, while his brother-in-law, August Bruchman, was the former head bartender at the Turner Hall. August and his wife Mary resided at Schuetzen Park."
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Open
Davenport Coliseum, 1911. Images from German American Heritage Center & Museum Collections. 

Initially called the Saengerfest Halle, this building is now the Col Ballroom in Davenport, IA. 

Look at those colors!

Davenport Coliseum, 1911. Images from German American Heritage Center & Museum Collections.

Initially called the Saengerfest Halle, this building is now the Col Ballroom in Davenport, IA.

Look at those colors!
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Open
Only a few more days left to enjoy free admission in July! 🎟️

Visit the museum free of charge through July 31st. Explore the history of Davenport and the German immigrants who built our community. 

Open:
Tuesday - Saturday 10 am - 4 pm
Sunday 12 - 4 pm
Closed Monday

Only a few more days left to enjoy free admission in July! 🎟️

Visit the museum free of charge through July 31st. Explore the history of Davenport and the German immigrants who built our community.

Open:
Tuesday – Saturday 10 am – 4 pm
Sunday 12 – 4 pm
Closed Monday
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Open
German Lutheran Church in Geneseo, IL. 1890. 

Image from German American Heritage Center and Museum Collection.

German Lutheran Church in Geneseo, IL. 1890.

Image from German American Heritage Center and Museum Collection.
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Open
The Outing Club, 1900. Image from German American Heritage Center Collections.

Established in 1891. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1977 and a contributing building of Vander Veer Park Historic District since 1985.

Though not directly part of the German American Immigrant history, The Outing Club is a pillar in Davenport's communal history.

The Outing Club, 1900. Image from German American Heritage Center Collections.

Established in 1891. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1977 and a contributing building of Vander Veer Park Historic District since 1985.

Though not directly part of the German American Immigrant history, The Outing Club is a pillar in Davenport`s communal history.
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Open
Stay tuned for a BIG reveal coming next week!

After 16 years on display and noticeable wear and tear to our permanent exhibition panels, we are installing new, dynamic, and exciting signage and artifacts to our timeline area on the 3rd floor. We can't wait to see our hard work come to life in our permanent exhibition space.

The new information still explores the experiences of German immigrants to our area, but we are adding more artifacts, telling broader stories and experiences of residents in the Quad Cities during the high points in immigration history, and exploring what German immigrants arrived to in Iowa—some expected, and others not.

Thank you to Regional Development Authority for their support of this project. And thank you to our generous donors who helped us recover the lost funding after the federal budget cuts earlier this year: Cal and Jill Werner, Bob Thoreson, The Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities, and an anonymous donor. We could not have done this project on our original timeline without the support of our community. 

And thank you to Edwards Creative for working with us on this project. Your designs and imagination will bring this exciting project to life!

Stay tuned for a BIG reveal coming next week!

After 16 years on display and noticeable wear and tear to our permanent exhibition panels, we are installing new, dynamic, and exciting signage and artifacts to our timeline area on the 3rd floor. We can`t wait to see our hard work come to life in our permanent exhibition space.

The new information still explores the experiences of German immigrants to our area, but we are adding more artifacts, telling broader stories and experiences of residents in the Quad Cities during the high points in immigration history, and exploring what German immigrants arrived to in Iowa—some expected, and others not.

Thank you to Regional Development Authority for their support of this project. And thank you to our generous donors who helped us recover the lost funding after the federal budget cuts earlier this year: Cal and Jill Werner, Bob Thoreson, The Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities, and an anonymous donor. We could not have done this project on our original timeline without the support of our community.

And thank you to Edwards Creative for working with us on this project. Your designs and imagination will bring this exciting project to life!
…

Open
We're excited to share that our virtual version of our "Recent Acquisitions" exhibition is now live! This exhibition explored some of the newest and most interesting items added to our collection from the last 6 years. It was on display in person until June 1st, but now it is available to view year-round online. 

In addition to photographs and the didactics from the original exhibition, our summer intern, Enya, has translated the exhibition to German, provided voiceovers for the artifact labels, and conducted additional research and resources to enhance the exhibition. We hope these additions are useful and help make this content more accessible to a wider audience.

You can explore the virtual exhibition here: https://virmuze.com/m/gahc/x/whats-new-recent-acquisitions-to-the-collection/ 

Enya is a student in the @wiulovesmuseumstudies MA program (anticipated to graduate in December of 2025) and an intern at the German American Heritage Center and Museum. She is German-American, having been born in Bavaria, and regularly visits family there. As she was a military-brat, she has also lived in the Rhineland-Pfalz region of Germany, England, and multiple U.S. states. She loves helping others learn about German culture, as well as learning about different cultures from around the world.

We`re excited to share that our virtual version of our "Recent Acquisitions" exhibition is now live! This exhibition explored some of the newest and most interesting items added to our collection from the last 6 years. It was on display in person until June 1st, but now it is available to view year-round online.

In addition to photographs and the didactics from the original exhibition, our summer intern, Enya, has translated the exhibition to German, provided voiceovers for the artifact labels, and conducted additional research and resources to enhance the exhibition. We hope these additions are useful and help make this content more accessible to a wider audience.

You can explore the virtual exhibition here: https://virmuze.com/m/gahc/x/whats-new-recent-acquisitions-to-the-collection/

Enya is a student in the @wiulovesmuseumstudies MA program (anticipated to graduate in December of 2025) and an intern at the German American Heritage Center and Museum. She is German-American, having been born in Bavaria, and regularly visits family there. As she was a military-brat, she has also lived in the Rhineland-Pfalz region of Germany, England, and multiple U.S. states. She loves helping others learn about German culture, as well as learning about different cultures from around the world.
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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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