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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
    • Newsletter
    • Contact Us
  • Private Events
  • Donate

Resources

Resources

Resources and links for teachers, genealogists, researchers, history buffs, and everyone in between.

Click on a title to be redirected to their website

General

German Connections

This online directory has an interactive map where you can search for German organizations across the United States. This online directory is a one-stop shop for all things German-American in the U.S. The German American Heritage Foundation strives to represent all people of German-speaking heritage, we invite our Austrian American and Swiss American friends as well to contribute information about clubs, organizations, favorite restaurants, neighborhood businesses, churches, schools, and so much more.

German Connections

Genealogy

Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center and Scott County Genealogical Society (SCIGS)

Located in the basement of the Davenport Public Library, this collections includes free local databases, books, maps, manuscripts, and photographs. 

Richardson Sloane Special Collections Website

Family History Center, Davenport, IA

A facility of the LDS Church, the center holds many records both on-site and available through interlibrary loans that are of great importance to genealogists.

Information

IAGenWebProject - Scott County

A group of volunteers working together to provide Internet websites for genealogical research in every county of Iowa.

Website

German Genealogy Headquarters

Based in Iowa City, the German Genealogy team offers courses and webinars for those looking to become better genealogists. 

Ursula C. Krause and Ute Brandenburg, two of the most recognized names in German genealogy, are joining forces to offer a completely new concept in German genealogy education. Both bring their unique research strengths to the table to create a team with unrivaled experience.

Their curriculum is designed to empower you as the teller of your ancestors’ stories. As you develop research skills, you will also gain insights to deeper understand the life experience of those who came before you.

 Website

Freelance Genealogists

Ursula Krause: offers genealogical research, educational webinars, and personalized consultations. Learn More

Ute Brandenburg: specializes in reading German script, genealogical research, and educational opportunities. Learn More

German Immigration

German Immigration (Library of Congress)

An online resource for teachers includes an overview of the unique German immigrant story, their growth and influence in the United States. German were one of the first Europeans to immigrate to the New World.

LOC Website

Germans in the Midwest - National Museum of American History

Information about Germans and other European immigrant groups. From the National Museum of American History, a Smithsonian Institution.

Website

The Germans in America - Library of Congress

A chronology of Germans in the United States from 1608-1990.

Website

Local History

Gold Coast and Hamburg Historic District, Davenport

Dedicated to preserving the built heritage of Davenport’s First Neighborhood. Additionally, they collect its histories providing context and understanding of the great importance of this district.

Gold Coast Hamburg Historic District Website

ASHHS - American/Schleswig - Holstein Heritage Society

The American/Schleswig-Holstein Heritage Society was organized in 1989 to preserve the heritage of our Schleswig – Holstein forefathers.

ASHHS is the only German Heritage Society dedicated to promoting and preserving the heritage of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.

ASHHS Website

Rock Island County Historical Society

Includes a research library, databases, and museums.

RICHS Website

Rock Island County Genealogical Society

The society has online resources on the site as well as hard copy library that is hosted at the Rock Island County Historical Society building.

RICIGS Website

Rock Island Arsenal Historical Society

The society’s goal is to support the programs of its museum and the museum’s mission to illustrate Arsenal Island history; its local and national contributions and impacts; and its activities in war and peace.

RIAHS Website

Scott County Historic Preservation Society

Is committed to the cause of historic preservation in Scott County, Iowa.

SCHPS Website

Scott County Iowa Genealogical Society

SCIGS has its genealogical collection at the ‘Richardson-Sloane Special Collection Center’ located in the Davenport Public Library. If your ancestors once lived in the Scott County area, you will find the SCIGS collection very productive and useful.

SCIGS Website

Schuetzenpark Gilde - Schuetzen Park Historic Site

The Schuetzen Park Historic Site is a nature park “Naturschutzgebiet” located in west Davenport at 700 Waverly Road.

The Park was sold in 1923 and its wooded areas remained essentially unchanged for the next 80 years.

Recently, most of the Park’s former grounds were re-acquired and are being preserved as a “Wildpark”. It comprises about 20 acres and is owned and maintained by the Scheutzenpark Gilde. Nature trails are maintained throughout the site. Hours of operation are sun-up to sundown, May-November.

Schuetzenpark Website

Upper Mississippi Valley Photo Archive

An online digital collection of historic images showcasing the Mississippi River Region along the Iowa/Illinois border.

UMVPA Website

QC PastPort

Self-guided, interactive, physical, and digital tours throughout the Quad Cities. Stops along this tour bring our area’s rich history to life by highlighting architecture, businesses, institutions, and fascinating sites through the stories of the people who were there at the time. 

QC Pastport Website

On Germany

Deutsch Americanische National Kongress (German American National Congress) D.A.N.K.

The German American National Congress is the largest organization of Americans of German descent.

The organization seeks to bring Americans of German descent together in the pursuit of cultivating and presenting their heritage and interests on local, regional and national levels.

DANK Website

Goethe Institute

The Goethe-Institut is the Federal Republic of Germany’s cultural institute, active worldwide. They promote the study of German abroad and encourage international cultural exchange.

Goethe Institute Website

Max Kade Institute for German-American Studies

The Max Kade Institute for German-American Studies is an interdisciplinary unit in the College of Letters and Science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. It is dedicated to researching, preserving, and sharing the stories of German-speaking immigrants and their descendants in the larger context of global migration past and present.

Website

DANK Haus German American Cultural Center

The DANK Haus mission is to preserve and promote German culture, heritage, and language through maintaining a center consisting of a museum, art gallery, library, and language school, and organizing educational and social programming focusing on and emphasizing the history, traditions, and contributions of Germans and German Americans.

Website

Traditional Clothing and Heritage Resources

This page describes traditional German clothing (Trachten) and Bavarian-style clothing that is associated with German events and celebrations like Oktoberfest. This site also includes links to other sources regarding genealogy, heritage, German history, and more.

Website

ON INSTAGRAM
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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
Cans in progress for Best of the Wurst on Sunday! We will have Hefenstein’s Monster, a 5.1% abv Hefeweizen on tap Sunday during the event. Cans will be available in the gift shop to take home 🍻 
16 oz, 4 pack is $14. 
Museum members get a 10% discount and all purchases are tax free! ☀️
If you haven’t been to @twinspanbrewing, take a trip to the restaurant and brewery and try all of their yummy brews!

Cans in progress for Best of the Wurst on Sunday! We will have Hefenstein’s Monster, a 5.1% abv Hefeweizen on tap Sunday during the event. Cans will be available in the gift shop to take home 🍻
16 oz, 4 pack is $14.
Museum members get a 10% discount and all purchases are tax free! ☀️
If you haven’t been to @twinspanbrewing, take a trip to the restaurant and brewery and try all of their yummy brews!
…

Open
Get ready for the 8th annual Best of the Wurst sausage competition, this Sunday, July 13th from 12:00 am- 4:00 pm!  Members get in free to this fun competition where you can  sample local brats, purchase a variety of delicious food, enjoy an ice cold beer or pop, and vote for your favorite “wurst!” This year we will also ice cream from Here's the Scoop to taste! Live music, ice cream, and balloon twisting are just some of the special activities we have planned. $5 entry per person, kids under 12 and members are free. Tickets are available at the door, cash or card is accepted. Take a look at some of the highlights from last year's Best of the Wurst competition here:

Get ready for the 8th annual Best of the Wurst sausage competition, this Sunday, July 13th from 12:00 am- 4:00 pm! Members get in free to this fun competition where you can sample local brats, purchase a variety of delicious food, enjoy an ice cold beer or pop, and vote for your favorite “wurst!” This year we will also ice cream from Here`s the Scoop to taste! Live music, ice cream, and balloon twisting are just some of the special activities we have planned. $5 entry per person, kids under 12 and members are free. Tickets are available at the door, cash or card is accepted. Take a look at some of the highlights from last year`s Best of the Wurst competition here: …

Open
GAHC members get in free to our 8th annual Best of the Wurst sausage competition, held this Sunday, July 13th from 12:00 am- 4:00 pm! Along with local Here's the Scoop ice cream, guests can sample local brats, purhcase from a variety of delicious foods, and enjoy an ice cold beer or pop! And don't forget to vote for your favorite “wurst!” Live music, ice cream, and balloon twisting are just some of the special activities we have planned. $5 entry per person, kids under 12 and members are free. Tickets are available at the door, cash or card is accepted. Here's some of the fun that we had at last year's Best of the Wurst!

GAHC members get in free to our 8th annual Best of the Wurst sausage competition, held this Sunday, July 13th from 12:00 am- 4:00 pm! Along with local Here`s the Scoop ice cream, guests can sample local brats, purhcase from a variety of delicious foods, and enjoy an ice cold beer or pop! And don`t forget to vote for your favorite “wurst!” Live music, ice cream, and balloon twisting are just some of the special activities we have planned. $5 entry per person, kids under 12 and members are free. Tickets are available at the door, cash or card is accepted. Here`s some of the fun that we had at last year`s Best of the Wurst! …

Open
Independence Day may be over, but our appreciation for service members is never-ending. Now until Labor Day (September 1st, 2025), active-duty military personnel and their families can visit the German American Heritage Center for free!

Independence Day may be over, but our appreciation for service members is never-ending. Now until Labor Day (September 1st, 2025), active-duty military personnel and their families can visit the German American Heritage Center for free! …

Open
Did you know the Col Ballroom in the West End of Davenport, is part of the National Register of Historic Places? 

Though renamed in 1914, Col Ballroom originates from the Saengerfest Halle. This building brought together German musicians across the Midwest. Today it is no longer a performance venue, but we can keep its legacy alive by talking about it.

Did you know the Col Ballroom in the West End of Davenport, is part of the National Register of Historic Places?

Though renamed in 1914, Col Ballroom originates from the Saengerfest Halle. This building brought together German musicians across the Midwest. Today it is no longer a performance venue, but we can keep its legacy alive by talking about it.
…

Open
Now on display in our first floor gallery.

Visits are free this month! Come see this exhibit and more, our hours are, Tues-Sat 10am to 4pm, Sun 12pm-4pm, and Closed on Mondays.

Now on display in our first floor gallery.

Visits are free this month! Come see this exhibit and more, our hours are, Tues-Sat 10am to 4pm, Sun 12pm-4pm, and Closed on Mondays.
…

Open
This Sunday, July 13th from 12:00 am- 4:00 pm, we'll host our 8th annual Best of the Wurst sausage competition! Guests can sample local brats, purchase a variety of delicious food, enjoy an ice cold beer or pop, and vote for your favorite “wurst!” This year we will also ice cream from Here's the Scoop to taste! Live music, ice cream, and balloon twisting are just some of the special activities we have planned. $5 entry per person, kids under 12 and members are free. Tickets are available at the door, cash or card is accepted. Take a look at some photos from last year's Best of the Wurst competition:

This Sunday, July 13th from 12:00 am- 4:00 pm, we`ll host our 8th annual Best of the Wurst sausage competition! Guests can sample local brats, purchase a variety of delicious food, enjoy an ice cold beer or pop, and vote for your favorite “wurst!” This year we will also ice cream from Here`s the Scoop to taste! Live music, ice cream, and balloon twisting are just some of the special activities we have planned. $5 entry per person, kids under 12 and members are free. Tickets are available at the door, cash or card is accepted. Take a look at some photos from last year`s Best of the Wurst competition: …

Open
Join us Sunday July 13th from 12:00- 4:00 pm for our 8th annual Best of the Wurst sausage competition! Sample local brats, purchase a variety of delicious food, enjoy an ice cold beer or pop, and vote for your favorite “wurst!” Live music, ice cream, and balloon twisting are just some of the special activities we have planned. $5 entry per person, kids under 12 and members are free. Tickets are available at the door, cash or card is accepted. Here's a throwback to last year's Best of the Wurst!

Join us Sunday July 13th from 12:00- 4:00 pm for our 8th annual Best of the Wurst sausage competition! Sample local brats, purchase a variety of delicious food, enjoy an ice cold beer or pop, and vote for your favorite “wurst!” Live music, ice cream, and balloon twisting are just some of the special activities we have planned. $5 entry per person, kids under 12 and members are free. Tickets are available at the door, cash or card is accepted. Here`s a throwback to last year`s Best of the Wurst! …

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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