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

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

ON INSTAGRAM

German American Heritage Center and Museum

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

Join us on Sunday for Kaffee und Kuchen with David and Sarojini Johnson. We will discuss the German Expressionist prints on display and learn more about the artists themselves. Visit the galleries and hear from the Johnsons about their collection and their inspiration as artists.
Visit the Figge Art Museum to see more of the Johnson's collection in the Lewis gallery as well!
Register Here: https://events.humanitix.com/kaffee-und-kuchen-gallery-talk-with-david-and-sarojini-johnson

Join us on Sunday for Kaffee und Kuchen with David and Sarojini Johnson. We will discuss the German Expressionist prints on display and learn more about the artists themselves. Visit the galleries and hear from the Johnsons about their collection and their inspiration as artists.
Visit the Figge Art Museum to see more of the Johnson`s collection in the Lewis gallery as well!
Register Here: https://events.humanitix.com/kaffee-und-kuchen-gallery-talk-with-david-and-sarojini-johnson …

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 …

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." …

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! …

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 …

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. …

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. …

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! …

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