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germanamericanheritagecenter

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

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! 🇩🇪 🇺🇸 …

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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. …

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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! …

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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! …

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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 …

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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 …

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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. …

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