German-American Heritage
Did you know that it was a German who gave America its name? The cartographer Martin Waldseemüller (1470-1520) was the first to draw the New World as a continent on his map Universalis cosmographia, part of which you see on your right, calling it "America" after Amerigo Vespucci, whom Waldseemüller thought to be the real discoverer of America.
But that was by far not the only footprint that Germans left in America. Since the arrival of a German botanist in the Jamestown in 1608, German immigrants and their descendants have made an indelible imprint on this country. Today, some 43 million Americans claim German heritage.
Germans - Deutsche in Amerika
Combining vivid portraits with frank interviews, Gunter Klötzer's Germans in Amerika project presents a compelling portrayal of Germans living in America today. For 10 months beginning in summer 2003, Klötzer photographed some 120 individuals and asked them to answer the same set of questions about their decisions to come to the US.
The Steuben Parade - from Kleindeutschland to New York City
Each year in September, the city’s annual Steuben Parade attracts thousands to Fifth Avenue in a celebration of German-American heritage. The parade ushers in the city’s German-American friendship week, an event that highlights the strong ties between the United States and Germany.
Where It All Began - 400 Years of Germans in America
Jamestown is considered "the birthplace of the United States". The first German settlers to boldly make their way to the New World also arrived here. A series of events were held to commemorate the dawn of the German-American experience in the United States.
Germans Write History in Pennsylvania
In the 19th century, a number of religious communities left Germany to start a new life in America. They brought with them not only their religious beliefs and ideas for a simple lifestyle but also their German work ethic, giving them a competitive edge in the growing early American economy.
German Heritage Texas Style
Ever since several thousand German immigrants were brought to the newly founded Republic of Texas starting in the 1840s, German towns have been thriving, successfully blending German heritage and traditional Texas hospitality.
Waldsee - the German Language Village
Waldsee, literally "lake in the woods", is immersion in action – up to an entire month of living in an entirely German-speaking environment where English is as outlawed as American foods and pop culture. Explore German language at a fun day camp through nature, music, sports, games, dance, arts, crafts and delicious food.
German Fests in America
German fests - with their beer, parades, music, dances and sumptuous food - are often viewed as the epitome of Germanness. Many American cities celebrate traditional German fests, so you may not need to travel far to for a fix of some German Gemütlichkeit. Prost!
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