German American Heritage Center & Museum

06/03/2026

For , we are sharing the stories of LGBTQ+ individuals from history.

Gertrude Sandmann (1893–1981) was a Berlin artist who refused to let persecution erase her life or her work.

As a Jewish woman and a le***an under N**i rule, Sandmann faced constant danger. She was banned from exhibiting her art, pushed out of public life, and stripped of her professional identity. But she did not disappear.

Sandmann had built her artistic career at a time when women were often excluded from formal training. She studied at the Berlin Association of Women Artists and later worked under Käthe Kollwitz, who remained an important mentor and friend.
In her personal life, Sandmann also challenged expectations. She knew she was a le***an from a young age. After a brief marriage to a man due to social pressure, she developed a lasting partnership with Hedwig Koslowski in 1927. Their relationship would later become a lifeline.

By the early 1940s, the threat of deportation was real and widely understood as a death sentence. In 1942, Sandmann made a desperate and courageous decision to stage her own death. Leaving behind a su***de note and her belongings, she went into hiding in Berlin.

For more than two years, Sandmann lived in secret. She moved between hiding places, relying on a small network of trusted friends, including Koslowski, who risked her own safety to help her survive. Cut off from her art and community, Sandmann endured isolation, hunger, and fear: but she survived.

After the war, Sandmann returned to her work. Despite lasting health problems from her time in hiding, she rebuilt her artistic career, exhibited her work, and even held a solo exhibition in 1974. She also became an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in postwar Germany. Her life reminds us that even in the darkest times, people find ways to endure hardship and remain inspired to create.

Learn more about her life here: https://www.deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de/content/blog/kulturerbe-erzaehlt-die-kuenstlerin-gertrude-sandmann?lang=en

Artwork - Berlinische Galerie:
Grüne Schneeballen, 1949
Kauerndes Mädchen mit Schatten, 1940

06/01/2026

The German American Heritage Center and Museum seeks a Director of Development to support the goals and mission of our organization.

The Director of Development will play a crucial role in fostering and maintaining relationships with our partners, donors, and sponsors. This position involves cultivating partnerships, managing donor communications, organizing fundraising events, and ensuring that our supporters feel valued and informed about the impact of their contributions. The ideal candidate will have development experience, strong communication skills, a passion for history, and a commitment to enhancing the donor experience.

For full job description and application instructions, visit: https://gahc.org/employment-opportunities/

Status: Full-time 40 hours/week, flexible scheduling, weekend availability
Compensation: $40,000-50,000

Send a cover letter, resume, and references to: Kirk Marske, Executive Director – [email protected] (please put Director of Development as the subject to the e-mail)

Applications will be accepted until 5pm on June 26, 2026.

05/29/2026

🚧🚗 It's easier to get to the German American Heritage Center and Museum than you think, we promise!

The City's construction project at W. 2nd and Gaines Street is affecting traffic in the area, but the most common way to get to us is still open. Yes, there are barricades on Gaines Street, but crews have provided an open route from W. 3rd Street to our parking lot entrance on Gaines Street.

And, fun fact: the curbside lanes on W. 3rd Street are parking lanes, so visitors have the option of free on-street parking nearby, too.

Our newest exhibit, Shaped By Immigrants: Celebrating 250 Years of the United States, is now open in our first floor gallery. And, we are a stop for tomorrow's Lemonade Sip N' Shop event in Downtown Davenport, Iowa. Come see us 10am-4pm Saturday for an Erdbeerfelder (lemonade with strawberry syrup) and receive a 10% discount on a purchase in our gift shop while you're here, too.

Note: The Centennial Bridge's eastbound off-ramp is open for Iowa-bound traffic (with occasional delays). After exiting the bridge, just turn left at the first intersection (Western Avenue), and then left onto W. 3rd Street to get to Gaines Street. Or, choose a different bridge and make your way to W. 3rd and Gaines. Either way, we look forward to seeing you soon at the German American Heritage Center and Museum!

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05/28/2026

Our newest exhibition, "Shaped by Immigrants: Celebrating 250 Years of the United States," is now on display. We have many artifacts from our collection on display as well as loaned pieces from the Putnam Museum.

This Davenport Turner uniform belonged to Hertha A. (Berg) Vogel-Hildebrand (1906-2004), a life member of the Davenport Central Turner Hall. Her mother was the daughter of German immigrants and was a member of the Davenport Zither Club. Her father immigrated from Schleswig-Holstein and was a Scott County employee for over 25 years. He was also a member of the Turner Singing Society.

In her childhood years, Hertha spent many enjoyable days at Schuetzen Park in Davenport where her father ran the shooting gallery and her mother was the cook. They were actively involved in many German-American activities that were typical of many immigrant families.

Explore more stories about German immigrants, and other immigrant groups and how they have shaped the United States we know it today.

05/27/2026

Sip on lemonade, enjoy live music and shop exclusive deals this Saturday, May 30 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. in Downtown Davenport.

We are participating in Downtown Davenport's FREE Lemonade Sip N’ Shop, where downtown businesses are serving up their own take on lemonade alongside exclusive specials and deals.

Stroll through your favorite shops, sip on lemonade and see what catches your eye. Curbside Concerts will be popping up throughout downtown, so you might just stumble into some live acoustic music along the way.

HOW IT WORKS:
Start your adventure at any of the participating business below where you'll receive...

➡️ Your FIRST cup of FREE lemonade to kickstart your shopping spree

➡️ A map with all participating businesses

➡️ A stamp card: Make a purchase, get a stamp! Collect five stamps and you'll be entered into our Grand Prize Giveaway

➡️ Once you've completed your stamp card, turn it in to any one of the participating businesses

🇩🇪 The German American Heritage Center and Museum is offering:
Drink: Erdbeerfelder – Lemonade with Strawberry Syrup
Special Deal: 10% Off Any Gift Shop Purchase

05/26/2026

Thanks for visiting! Check out JT The Iowa Investigator for neat sites across the State of Iowa.

05/24/2026

05/13/2026

A grant from The American Legion of Iowa Foundation supported our public safety station project for the German American Heritage Center and Museum.

We are grateful for this partnership which enabled us to equip our building with a Cardiac Science Powerheart AED (automated external defibrillator), blood pressure monitor, pulse oximeter, first aid kit, CPR mask, and juice boxes for low blood sugar.

Together, we are more prepared for potential medical emergencies as our National Historic Site welcomes over 12,500 visitors per year for our events/programs, gift shop, museum, and banquet hall. Thank you to The American Legion of Iowa Foundation for making this project possible.