German-American Heritage Foundation and Museum

German-American Heritage Foundation and Museum The German-American Heritage Museum tells the story of all Americans of German-speaking descent

This year, it's all about America250, and we want to do our part at community building by cross-promoting the various ev...
05/27/2026

This year, it's all about America250, and we want to do our part at community building by cross-promoting the various events and organization celebrating German-speaking immigrants over more than four centuries. Did you know that Virginia's Germanna settlement is one of the oldest colonial settlements in the country? Dating back to 1714, this quaint Virginia region became a destination for German miners who had been recruited by British Lieutenant Governor Spotswood. As Historic Germanna celebrates its 70th Anniversary alongside America’s 250th anniversary, this year’s gathering will feature special programs and experiences offered only this year.
This summer, you can join descendants, historians, genealogists, and friends from across the country for a weekend that feels part family reunion, part history festival, and part celebration of the people and stories that make Germanna unique.

Highlights Include:

A special 70th Anniversary Dinner and Awards Celebration honoring Dr. Katharine Brown, Frank L. Walker, Jr., and Doug Harnsberger
A rare opportunity to see Peter Muhlenberg’s robe and explore the famous Revolutionary War story behind it
A special Friday symposium on Faith Traditions in Revolutionary Virginia featuring Dr. Guy Erwin and other outstanding speakers
A full Historical and Genealogical Conference, Oktoberfest festivities, tours, fellowship, and more.

https://germanna.org/conference-and-reunion/?emci=8001fb13-2559-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&emdi=9208c52d-d259-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&ceid=6674673

Join us on Thursday, June 11 at 6 pm for a free lecture with Dr. Hannes Richter on the Salzburger Emigrants, a group o...
05/26/2026


Join us on Thursday, June 11 at 6 pm for a free lecture with Dr. Hannes Richter on the Salzburger Emigrants, a group of German-speaking Protestant refugees from the Catholic Archbishopric of Salzburg, then a part of the Holy Roman Empire that immigrated to the Georgia Colony in 1734 to escape religious persecution. This group was expelled from their homeland by Count Leopold Anton von Firmian (1679–1744), Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg. On Oct. 31, 1731, he issued an Edict of Expulsion demanding from the Salzburg Protestants to recant their faith. Pastor Samuel Urlsperger, the leader of the Society for Promotion of Christian Knowledge, called upon King George II of Great Britain for help. The King offered them refuge in his Georgia colony, which later became the town of Ebenezer. Location: German-American Heritage Museum in Washington, DC
Please use the link in the comments to register.

Dear Members and Friends,We wish those of you in the United States, a relaxing Memorial Day weekend surrounded by family...
05/25/2026

Dear Members and Friends,
We wish those of you in the United States, a relaxing Memorial Day weekend surrounded by family and friends. It is easy to forget that Memorial Day has a deeper meaning, and serves to commemorate the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces throughout the centuries.
May the spirit of Memorial Day remind us of the true price of liberty, and inspire us to live with gratitude.
If you are interested in the contributions of German American soldiers, please take a look at our website. We have an ongoing project, called Biographies and Voices of German American Soldiers to remember that immigrants and their descendants fought for the United States from the beginning. Visit our website at www.gahmusa.org to learn more.

With best wishes,

German-American Heritage Foundation & Museum

05/21/2026

Our executive director, Katja Sipple, was invited to a panel discussion with Stiftung Verbundenheit yesterday, and talked about the German American community in the US, its history, and what role this community plays today. Stephan Mayer, a member of the German Parliament, kindly provided a welcome message, and all participants agreed that more collaboration between the various German and Austrian American organizations would be very desirable. Cultural events are an important vehicle to forge interpersonal relationships that can then positively impact other developments.

We are so proud of our colleague, Katherine thor Straten (far left), a graduate student in art history at George Washing...
05/21/2026

We are so proud of our colleague, Katherine thor Straten (far left), a graduate student in art history at George Washington University, who received the "Melvin Lader Award for Outstanding Work by a 1st-Year Student in Art History" on May 15! Congratulations, Katie!

A few weeks ago, we posted about General de Kalb, the Franconian farmer's son, who became a hero of the American Revolut...
05/20/2026

A few weeks ago, we posted about General de Kalb, the Franconian farmer's son, who became a hero of the American Revolution. Our board members Klaus Becker who runs the Zeitgeist Foundation in Charlotte, NC and Matthias Weimer from Charleston, SC organized a lecture with author John Beakes. Listen to the lecture recorded at the Library Society here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQqEZKsOZhs

Libel is a term that has become part of our regular vocabulary, but in the United States, it has a strong German Am...
05/20/2026


Libel is a term that has become part of our regular vocabulary, but in the United States, it has a strong German American connection. Let us tell you about John Peter Zenger (1697-1746). Zenger was born in the Palatinate, and emigrated together with his parents and siblings to New York in 1710. The governor of New York had agreed to provide apprenticeships for all immigrant children, and young John was assigned to printer William Bradford. Bradford began publishing the "New York Gazette" in 1725, the first and only newspaper in New York at the time, and Zenger was in charge of production, and had a short stint as Bradford's business partner. Zenger soon ventured out on his own, and in 1730, he printed Peter Venema's "Arithmetica", considered the first mathematical text published in New York. Three years later, Zenger began printing "The New York Weekly Journal", which was critical of the colonial governor, William Cosby. Crosby accused him of libel, and had him imprisoned for 8 months. When the case finally went to trial in 1734, it had become a cause célèbre. Zenger's lawyers argued that a statement, even if defamatory, is not libelous if it is factually true, thus affirming freedom of the press in America. The case laid the legal groundwork for using truth as a defense against libel, but it took another 71 years for this statement to become a legal precedent and a law.

A very Happy Mother's Day to all of the amazing women out there. Thank you for the wonderful work you do every single da...
05/10/2026

A very Happy Mother's Day to all of the amazing women out there. Thank you for the wonderful work you do every single day!

German and Austrian Americans are some of the most assimilated ethnic groups in the United States. They have faded...
05/07/2026


German and Austrian Americans are some of the most assimilated ethnic groups in the United States. They have faded into mainstream culture, and are perceived as at least partially invisible. Unlike the Irish or Italian Americans who have not only preserved a strong sense of identity and cohesion, but are actively engaged in reshaping them, we are the least mobilized as a bloc despite being such a large group. What do you think can and must be done to come together and become an engine of influence again? In other words, how do we get from "the people that once were" to "the people who lead now and tomorrow"? Is it doable? Put your thoughts in the comments, please.

We continue our ongoing thread of prominent German Americans with William Rittenhouse (1644-1708) today. His claim t...
05/06/2026


We continue our ongoing thread of prominent German Americans with William Rittenhouse (1644-1708) today. His claim to fame, along with personal wealth, came from being the owner of the first paper mill in the North American colonies. In the 17th century, paper was a precious and labor-intensive commodity made from recycled linen and cotton rags. The industry was revolutionized by the Dutch invention of the "Hollander be**er" before 1670, which significantly increased pulp production efficiency over traditional stamping mills. Rittenhouse was born as Wilhelm Rettinghaus (or Rittingshaus, sources are unclear) just outside of Mühlheim an der Ruhr in modern-day North Rhine-Westphalia. Several of his ancestors were papermakers in Germany and Holland, and Rittenhouse studied papermaking in Holland before emigrating to Pennsylvania in 1688 with his Dutch wife.
In 1690, he established the first paper mill outside of Philadelphia on Monoshone Creek. That first mill was destroyed during a winter storm in 1700/01 along with a sizeable quantity of paper, tools and other materials. In 1702, a second larger mill made of stone, with a more efficient overshot mill wheel, was built nearby. Completed on June 30, 1704, Rittenhouse became the sole owner of the mill, which soon proved to be too small to keep up with demand. Rittenhouse soon began producing paper for William Bradford, the first printer in the middle colonies, and as there was no competition for almost 25 years, his business thrived. After his death in 1708, his son Nicholas took over the family business, and Rittenhouse descendants continued making paper until 1891 when the mill was taken down by the Fairmout Park Commission to create a public park. William Rittenhouse is buried in the Mennonite churchyard in Germantown, Pa. above Herman Street. The site of his first mill is now Historic Rittenhouse Town.

When art meets fashion success isn't always guaranteed, but at this year's Met Costume Gala Austrian and German artistic...
05/05/2026

When art meets fashion success isn't always guaranteed, but at this year's Met Costume Gala Austrian and German artistic influences brought historical art and modern fashion together in surprising ways: Gustav Klimt and the Viennese Secession movement, important influences in Austrian and German Art Nouveau with its organic lines and golden ornamentation. Euphoria star Hunter Schafer's dress was inspired by the Klimt portrait of Mäda Gertrude Primavesi from 1912, which features a then 9-year-old Mäda who was the daughter of Otto and Eugenia Primavesi. Gracie Abrams also used Klimt as the inspiration for her gold-beaded and embroidered gown. German model Heidi Klum came as a living marble statue, depicting a vestal virgin in full make up and veils, whilst Carey Mulligan's simple shift dress was a nod to German American artist Josef Albers, who is best known for his use of colorful squares.

Address

719 6th Street NW
Washington D.C., DC
20001

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 11am - 4:30pm
Thursday 11am - 4:30pm
Friday 11am - 4:30pm

Telephone

(202) 467-5000

Website

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