German-American Heritage Museum of the USA
 | |
  Location within Washington, D.C. | |
| Established | 2010 |
|---|---|
| Location | Washington, D.C. |
| Coordinates | 38°53′56″N 77°01′11″W / 38.898811°N 77.019794°W |
| Public transit access |
 Gallery Place-Chinatown |
| Website |
gahmusa |
The German American Heritage Museum of the USA (GAHM) is a tribute to Americans of German descent, told via permanent exhibits, timelines, art, and multimedia. It is located since March 2010 in the Penn Quarter in Washington, D.C. and housed in Hockemeyer Hall. The GAHM works with several other German and German American organizations in the USA and Germany to provide a deeper understanding of past and current German immigration and cultural issues in the USA.
GAHM is also the national headquarters of the German-American Heritage Foundation of the USA.
History
Hockemeyer Hall
John Hockemeyer was a German immigrant who came to the United States in 1858. After serving in the Civil War, Hockemeyer became a wealthy merchant dealing in the grocery, coffee roasting, and meat businesses, thus becoming a leader in Washington, D.C.’s prosperous German-American community. In 1888, Hockemeyer built a Victorian townhouse that became a social center for Washington, D.C.’s German-American business community during his lifetime. It served as a meeting place for a number of German clubs and fraternal groups, for some of which Hockemeyer became an officer.
On October 17, 2008, the German-American Heritage Foundation acquired Hockemeyer Hall to establish the first national German-American Heritage Museum. Through supporters and extensive fundraising, the GAHF was able to renovate the interior and exterior of the old townhouse, which opened in March 2010.
German-American Heritage Foundation of the USA (GAHFUSA)
Hans Haug established the United German-American Committee (UGAC) of the USA in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1977 to elevate the nationwide profile of German-Americans. In 2006 the UGAC became known as the German-American Heritage Foundation of the USA (GAHFUSA).
The GAHF is a national non-profit organization that promotes German language, culture, and heritage in the United States. It publishes a quarterly newsletter, The Ambassador. The organization's national headquarters are located in Washington, D.C. The main goal of the GAHF is to preserve the history of German immigration to the United States and the role of German-Americans, both past and present, in building the United States. The organization strives to work with Americans of German heritage and language on issues of common concern, including the preservation of German language and culture in the USA.
Additionally, the organization supports a number of special projects such as the German-American Friendship Garden located on the Mall at Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C. and the care of the grave of Carl Schurz in Tarrytown, New York.
Inside the GAHM
The Stairs
Upon entering the GAHM, visitors first notice the staircase with photos of famous German-Americans at the base of every other step. Along the wall leading up to the exhibits are panels with a short biography of some of the most prominent figures who contributed to American culture, and who also happened to be German-Americans.
Exhibits
There are several permanent exhibits in the GAHM on the German contribution in building America:
Timeline: German immigration to the U.S.
Since the arrival of the first Germans to Jamestown in 1607, German-Americans have distinguished themselves through their cultural, economic, scientific, and political contributions to America. The timeline tells the story of how America’s German ancestry shaped America.
German music in the U.S.
This exhibition takes a look at the role German immigrants played in developing the American musical culture and the rich tradition of German choruses and “Lieder” that are still a part of American culture.
America & Germany: The Shaping of Images in Poetry and Prose
This small “books in motion” exhibition illustrates how captivating stories about America and German bestsellers in the U.S. have shaped perceptions of both countries.
German Families and Clubs
The exhibition on German families and clubs offers visitors the unique opportunity to learn about German club life and history in the U.S. and read personal accounts from German immigrants.
Temporary exhibits
Since opening in March 2010, the GAHM has executed one temporary exhibit, with plans for several more in the near future already in motion. “The Star & the Laurel: the Birth of the Automobile” (April 9-May 29, 2011) focused on the invention of the car by Carl Benz, the key roles people such as Henry Ford, Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach played in the development of the automobile, and how environmental and economic issues affect today’s auto industry.
Multimedia kiosk
The multimedia kiosk, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Washington, D.C., Deutsche Welle, the German National Tourist Board, the German Emigration Center, Hamburg Marketing, and the BallinStadt Emigration Museum, lets visitors explore various media resources to learn about present-day Germany.
Oral History Project
The Oral History Project is a cutting-edge research project that aims to foster common knowledge about the role German-Americans have played throughout American history. The project is funded through the European Recovery Program, a German governmental program established to strengthen transatlantic relations between the United States and Germany.
German-Americans interested in participating are asked a set of questions about their German ancestors, whether they came to the USA in the 17th century or the 20th century. The information collected will be become a valuable source for academic research and will help preserve the rich history of German-Americans.
Events and lectures
The GAHM frequently hosts lectures or events planned by other German-American or German speaking institutions from Washington, D.C., such as the Embassy of Switzerland, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Goethe Institut. These events address anything from discussions on immigration issues in Germany, to book readings and discussions, to cultural tours. These events and lectures often feature prominent members of the German-American community.
Visitors
The GAHM is a popular destination for school field trips. Students and teachers come to learn about German immigration by participating in a guided tour and educational activities that take them through the museum for an interactive learning experience.
The close ties the museum has with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, the U.S. Congress, and other German and German-American organizations not only foster transatlantic relations between the U.S. and Germany, but also help promote German cultural heritage in the U.S. These visitors include Congressmen Jim Gerlach and Bill Shuster, both key figures in the German-American Caucus, members of the German Bundestag, and former German ambassador to the USA Dr. Jürgen Ruhfus, to name just a few.
Guided tours are given on Thursdays and by appointment. Educational programs designed for students of all ages are also available. The museum is conveniently located within walking distance of the Gallery Place-Chinatown metro station (red, yellow, and green lines) and is behind the Verizon Center.
Membership
Membership to the German-American Heritage Foundation is open to all Americans of German descent. Some of the benefits of joining include receiving The Ambassador, the foundation’s newsletter, participating in cultural and youth programs, and receiving discounts on German specialty items and services of interest to German-Americans. In addition, the memberships help promote education about German-Americans, and German culture and language and make it possible for the GAHM to continue operating and developing exhibits.