Skip to content
  • 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
  • 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

Volunteer

Volunteer with us

Learn about the Museum

You can make a difference!

Explore our opportunities

Whether it’s greeting visitors, serving on a committee, or helping with special events, dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers are a vital part of the museum’s existence.

There are many opportunities to get involved at the German American Heritage Center and Museum. We’re always looking for friendly faces to help in the museum and with our many programs and events. Spend some time doing something you enjoy for the sake of our shared community!

Thinking About Getting Involved?
Share some basic contact information and what you are interested in volunteering for and we’ll be in touch!
Email Aaron Baker at [email protected] or call 563-322-8844.

Front Desk Volunteers

As a front desk volunteer, you’ll be the first to welcome guests to the museum! Take admission tickets, help with wayfinding, share happenings, answer questions, and assist with stocking items in our gift shop. This opportunity is available Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

For questions and further information, please contact Aaron Baker at [email protected].

Special Event Volunteers

We rely on volunteers to help with our special events throughout the year. 

We host a variety of fun and fascinating events each year ranging from our annual Oktoberfest, Best of the Wurst, VW Car Show, Vendor Fairs, and more. Our events bring culture and community together while raising funds for the museum. These events would not be possible without the help of our volunteers.

For questions and further information, please contact Aaron Baker at [email protected].

Join a Committee

We have numerous committees that are constantly working on new ideas to improve and make decisions on behalf of the museum. 

Participate in one of our many committees and bring your perspective and expertise to our organization. Committees typically meet every 8 weeks.

Our current committees:

  • Programming Committee
  • Building and Grounds Committee
  • Marketing Committee
  • Events Committee
  • Finance Committee
  • Governance Committee

For questions and further information, please contact Kirk Marske at [email protected].

Join our Board of Directors

Looking to be involved in a more meaningful way? Consider joining our Board of Directors to be a part of decision-making that makes a long-lasting impact on our organization. 

Join our board of directors and bring your diverse skill set and perspective to the GAHC+M. The Board of Directors meets every 8 weeks and makes strategic decisions for the short- and long-term sustainability of the museum.

For further information and a board application, please contact Kirk Marske at [email protected].

"Museums like the GAHC+M help bring people together on common ground, provide insight into the past, and allow for creativity and growth both mentally and spiritually.”
Lee M.
Lee M.
"Volunteering has given me the opportunity to be a part of living history and reminding people of the forgotten. History feels so much more real when you’re standing on or near the location where these events took place."
LaDella G.
LaDella G.
"Being involved in the program committee is a creative outlet. I get to brainstorm like mad with other people. Nothing's off the table. I can dream. I can make connections. I can learn. I can influence. I can support. I can admire. I can make a little bit of difference.”
Hedy H.
Hedy H.
"In addition to giving you purpose, you are learning new skills, meeting new people, and making a difference in an organization. The staff keeps me well informed, asks for input and ideas, and makes me feel valued.”
Donna P.
Donna P.
"Volunteering enriches one's life and provides a purposeful role in the community. The cultural enrichment that comes from volunteering promotes empathy and a deeper appreciation of civilization and our heritage.“
Chris S.
Chris S.
ON INSTAGRAM
  • Follow Us!

German American Heritage Center and Museum

germanamericanheritagecenter

1,393 1,742

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

NEWSLETTER

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
STAY CONNECTED
Instagram Facebook-f Twitter
Sign Up for our Newsletter
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

Newsletter

Subscribe to get all latest news, updates.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.