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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
    • Collections
    • DEAI Statement
    • Staff
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Newsletter
    • Contact Us
  • Private Events
  • Donate

Staff

Executive Director

[email protected]

Joan Finkenhoefer

Membership & Gifts Coordinator

Gloria Fiedler

Archivist

[email protected]

Aaron Baker

Education and DEAI Coordinator

[email protected]

Clare Tobin

Assistant Director & Curator

[email protected]

Christa Connell

Administrative Assistant

[email protected]

Board of Directors

Michael Motto – President

Barbara Zimmerman – Vice President

Julie Hegland – Treasurer

Heidi Lung – Secretary

Daniel Cabage

Rick Dienesch

Nick Eli

Mark Emde

Kylie Franklin

Lee Meier

Jerry Nieman

Sue Rector

Chris Sederstrom

Interested in joining our Board of Directors?

Download the application here. Send completed application to [email protected].
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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
The Big Heat, 6pm tonight at the Last Picture House. Davenport Iowa. 

Special thanks to the The Last Picture House and Truth First Film Alliance for supporting us in our mission.

Q&A After the show!
Artwork by local QC artist, Bruce Walters.

The Big Heat, 6pm tonight at the Last Picture House. Davenport Iowa.

Special thanks to the The Last Picture House and Truth First Film Alliance for supporting us in our mission.

Q&A After the show!
Artwork by local QC artist, Bruce Walters.
…

Open
🍻 🇩🇪 Love Oktoberfest as much as we do?? Get involved and help make the event great!

We are looking to fill volunteer spots for Oktoberfest Davenport on Saturday September 20th, 2025 at K-Square! Volunteers get complimentary drink tickets, a meal ticket, and an optional admission ticket to Oktoberfest Rock Island on October 4th. 

💪  As a small non-profit organization, we rely heavily on volunteers for help with set up, clean up, and everything in between. Help us make this event seamless by pitching in and making Downtown Davenport a great place to hang out!

Check out our openings and sign up here: https://signup.com/go/kxvtoBp

🍻 🇩🇪 Love Oktoberfest as much as we do?? Get involved and help make the event great!

We are looking to fill volunteer spots for Oktoberfest Davenport on Saturday September 20th, 2025 at K-Square! Volunteers get complimentary drink tickets, a meal ticket, and an optional admission ticket to Oktoberfest Rock Island on October 4th.

💪 As a small non-profit organization, we rely heavily on volunteers for help with set up, clean up, and everything in between. Help us make this event seamless by pitching in and making Downtown Davenport a great place to hang out!

Check out our openings and sign up here: https://signup.com/go/kxvtoBp
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Open
Get a FREE Expressionist-Inspired Print!

Through December 14th, 2025 or while supplies last.

Visit both the GAHC+M and the Figge's Expressionist exhibitions and receive a FREE original print made by local artist Joseph Lappie. Inspired by Expressionist forms, movement, style, and incorporating local landmarks, these prints are available at the front desk. Just show us that you visited both exhibitions! (picture, receipt, etc.)

Get a FREE Expressionist-Inspired Print!

Through December 14th, 2025 or while supplies last.

Visit both the GAHC+M and the Figge`s Expressionist exhibitions and receive a FREE original print made by local artist Joseph Lappie. Inspired by Expressionist forms, movement, style, and incorporating local landmarks, these prints are available at the front desk. Just show us that you visited both exhibitions! (picture, receipt, etc.)
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Open
Some Iconic film stills from Sunset Boulevard (1950).

Thank you to everyone who came out to see this film in support of the German American Heritage Center, @thelastpichouse , and Truth First Cinema Alliance Inc. This series would not be possible without your support. 

Join us again at the Last Picture House next week on September 10th for The Big Heat!
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#gloraswanson #silentfilm #sunsetboulevard #classics #oldhollywood #oldhollywoodglamour #talkies #filmhistory #film #photographs #reel #filmstills

Some Iconic film stills from Sunset Boulevard (1950).

Thank you to everyone who came out to see this film in support of the German American Heritage Center, @thelastpichouse , and Truth First Cinema Alliance Inc. This series would not be possible without your support.

Join us again at the Last Picture House next week on September 10th for The Big Heat!
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#gloraswanson #silentfilm #sunsetboulevard #classics #oldhollywood #oldhollywoodglamour #talkies #filmhistory #film #photographs #reel #filmstills
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Open
Sunset Boulevard, 6pm tonight at the Last Picture House. Davenport, Iowa.

Special thanks to @thelastpichouse  and Truth First Film Alliance for supporting us in our mission.

Q&A after the show!
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#gloriaswanson #sunsetboulevard #oldhollywood #hollywoodglamour #silentfilm #talkiefilm #movie #film #movingpicture #lastpicturehouse #filmstill #germanheritage #germanamerican #immigrant #history #filmhistory #classics

Sunset Boulevard, 6pm tonight at the Last Picture House. Davenport, Iowa.

Special thanks to @thelastpichouse and Truth First Film Alliance for supporting us in our mission.

Q&A after the show!
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#gloriaswanson #sunsetboulevard #oldhollywood #hollywoodglamour #silentfilm #talkiefilm #movie #film #movingpicture #lastpicturehouse #filmstill #germanheritage #germanamerican #immigrant #history #filmhistory #classics
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Open
Sunset Boulevard (1950) is a dramatic noir film that displays the stark contrast between silent and talkie films at the height of the Golden Age of Hollywood. This film follows Joe Fillis in his attempt to escape reality by taking advantage of the delusions that fading star Norma Desmond offers him.

It stars Gloria Swanson, William Holden, and Nancy Olson, with appearances by Buster Keaton, Anna Q. Nilsson, and H.B. Warner. Music score by Franz Waxman, the German refugee who gave Hollywood its signature sound. Written and Directed by Billy Wilder. 

Artwork by Bruce Walters

Sunset Boulevard will be shown at @thelastpichouse  on September 3rd, 2025 at 6pm. 
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#oldhollywood #silentfilm #talkie #hollywood #filmhistory #art #arthistory #oldhollywoodglamour #film #reel #german #heritage #refugee #immigrants #gloriaswanson

Sunset Boulevard (1950) is a dramatic noir film that displays the stark contrast between silent and talkie films at the height of the Golden Age of Hollywood. This film follows Joe Fillis in his attempt to escape reality by taking advantage of the delusions that fading star Norma Desmond offers him.

It stars Gloria Swanson, William Holden, and Nancy Olson, with appearances by Buster Keaton, Anna Q. Nilsson, and H.B. Warner. Music score by Franz Waxman, the German refugee who gave Hollywood its signature sound. Written and Directed by Billy Wilder.

Artwork by Bruce Walters

Sunset Boulevard will be shown at @thelastpichouse on September 3rd, 2025 at 6pm.
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#oldhollywood #silentfilm #talkie #hollywood #filmhistory #art #arthistory #oldhollywoodglamour #film #reel #german #heritage #refugee #immigrants #gloriaswanson
…

Open
Our next Cyanotype Workshop is coming up on September 7th! Learn this early form of photography with a few simple materials and create your own prints with materials provided. Register at the link in our bio.

Long before digital cameras, scientists and artists captured the world in a striking shade of blue. The cyanotype process, invented in 1842 by English chemist Sir John Herschel, used light-sensitive iron salts to create vivid blue and white images. Best known today for its use in early “blueprints” and the delicate botanical prints of Anna Atkins, cyanotype was quickly embraced across Europe, including by German photographers and scientists eager to explore its artistic and practical potential. By the late 19th century, German experimenters such as Henry Bosse advanced studies of photographic chemistry, paving the way for cyanotype’s role as both a scientific tool and an expressive medium.

Henry Bosse immigrated to the United States and worked in Rock island as a cartographer and draughtsman. He also worked on taking cyanotype photographs on the Mississippi River Valley.

Our next Cyanotype Workshop is coming up on September 7th! Learn this early form of photography with a few simple materials and create your own prints with materials provided. Register at the link in our bio.

Long before digital cameras, scientists and artists captured the world in a striking shade of blue. The cyanotype process, invented in 1842 by English chemist Sir John Herschel, used light-sensitive iron salts to create vivid blue and white images. Best known today for its use in early “blueprints” and the delicate botanical prints of Anna Atkins, cyanotype was quickly embraced across Europe, including by German photographers and scientists eager to explore its artistic and practical potential. By the late 19th century, German experimenters such as Henry Bosse advanced studies of photographic chemistry, paving the way for cyanotype’s role as both a scientific tool and an expressive medium.

Henry Bosse immigrated to the United States and worked in Rock island as a cartographer and draughtsman. He also worked on taking cyanotype photographs on the Mississippi River Valley.
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Open
🎃 We are still seeking vendors for our Fall Market on September 27th!

🍂 We are looking for local, handmade, unique items. Email clare@gahc.org or call 563-322-8844 to receive an application form. 
Herbstmarkt Fall Vendor Fair 

*We will never ask for money over platforms like Facebook. Speak to a staff member directly if you have questions or if you suspect a scam.

🎃 We are still seeking vendors for our Fall Market on September 27th!

🍂 We are looking for local, handmade, unique items. Email [email protected] or call 563-322-8844 to receive an application form.
Herbstmarkt Fall Vendor Fair

*We will never ask for money over platforms like Facebook. Speak to a staff member directly if you have questions or if you suspect a scam.
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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

Newsletter

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