German American Heritage Center & Museum

10/16/2026

📷 The road construction project at Gaines and W. 2nd Street is providing a unique view of the German American Heritage Center and Museum - one without the obstruction of street lights, stop lights, and trees at the Centennial Bridge on-ramp. The street lights and stop lights will return in the coming months, but we're looking forward to newly reconstructed pedestrian pathways at the gateway to Downtown Davenport, Iowa.

🚧 Please don't let the construction project stop you from visiting us. The most common way visitors access our parking lot - the Gaines Street entrance - is still open and accessible from W. 3rd Street. There are barricades on Gaines, but drivers are permitted to use the street with the open access provided. Free unlimited parking is also available nearby on W. 3rd Street.

🗓️ October is Quad Cities Museum Month, and the German American Heritage Center and Museum has free admission every Saturday through October 31. Plus, we have a drawing each Saturday - this week's prize is a free individual membership and $100 off the rental fee for Miller Hall on our 4th floor!

➡️ Saturday visitors also receive a 10% discount in our gift shop, which is stocked up for the Christmas season. Ninety-five percent of items sold in our gift shop are imported from Germany, including German smokers, children's toys, home accessories, Inge-Glas ornaments, and more.

Also, be sure to visit other nearby attractions during QC Museum Month, including Bix Beiderbecke Museum & Archives, Figge Art Museum, and Putnam Museum and Science Center. It's presented by Visit Quad Cities and more information is available at www.qcmuseumweek.com

10/11/2026

Guests Who Never Checked Out, Part 4: Arthur Wundram.

Arthur Wundram, 20, was at the Miller's Hotel Saloon on a cold January evening in 1912. He was enjoying the company at the bar and enjoying a glass of wh***ey. The testimonies vary, but according to newspaper records, the men at the bar wanted to mess with young Arthur, and dared him to drink more than he should've. He ended up having several full b**r glasses of wh***ey that night. At closing, Arthur was too intoxicated to stand up, let alone walk home. The men at the bar threw him into the barn behind the saloon, and covered him with straw to sleep it off. It was below freezing, and their decision and lack of care caused Arthur's eventual death.
In the morning, Arthur was retrived from the barn and brought up to a hotel room. A doctor was called and confirmed Arthur's poor condition. He passed away at 4 pm that afternoon. A lethal mix of probable alochol poisoning plus a long night in the freezing cold was too much for him to endure. The patrons of the bar and the saloon keeper were arrested and questioned. They lied to Arthur's family when they had called looking for him the night he didn't come home. They claimed Arthur was not at the bar and that he was not served anything to drink. Arthur's story is unfortunate and should serve as a reminder that what seems like fun and games to one person, might be deadly to someone else.
The Wundram family came to the United States in 1884 from Schleswig-Holstein, like so many other German immigrant families in Davenport. Arthur's parents opened an operated a grocery store on Second Street and then moved locations to Fourth Street to provide for their family. Arthur Wundram was the uncle of well-known QCA reporter and colunmnist, Bill Wundram.

10/08/2026

Guests who never checked out, Part 3: Albert Shawcross.

There have been several fires throughout the history of our building. One of the most horrifying is the story of Albert Shawcross. In a drunken stupor, Albert was heading to bed when he accidentally knocked his oil lamp off the side table and onto himself. His clothing quickly went up in flames and seeking help, went to the halls to find anyone else around. The only other person in the halls was a blind man, who could not see what was happening but could feel the heat from the man in front of him.

Unfortunately, Albert did not survive this accident. He was pronounced d*ad at the hospital after the ambulance was called to take him to a doctor. Do you think Albert could still be roaming the halls?

10/07/2026

Guests who never checked out, Part 2: Paul Löbel
In 1891, Paul Löbel went up to his room at the Germania House, agitated and feeling the withdrawls of alcohol since he had been refused service at the bar. In his frenzy, he decided to drink chloral hydrate, commonly used for sedation or relaxation, but in large doses can be fatal. Paul took too much, and was discovered the next morning.

10/06/2026

🇩🇪 October 6 is German-American Day, established in 1983 by President Ronald Reagan to celebrate German-American heritage and commemorate the founding of Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1683.

Today is also the traditional kickoff to the Annual Appeal for the German American Heritage Center and Museum, and all contributions provide support for our operations, exhibitions, programs, and events throughout the year. Look for information about our 2026 Annual Appeal this fall in your mailbox, on our social media platforms, and in our e-newsletters. Donation checks can also be mailed to the German American Heritage Center and Museum, 712 W. 2nd St, Davenport, IA 52802 through the end of the year. Or, donate online on our Donation page at www.gahc.org.

Every donation to the Annual Appeal - in any amount - supports our National Historic Site and arts and culture in the Quad Cities.

10/04/2026

Our paranormal investigation is this coming weekend! This is a rare opportunity to spend an evening at the museum after hours and learn about some of the more unsavory history of our building.

Join us for a paranormal investigation, Saturday October 10th in Davenport, Iowa!

From the building's long history as a hotel for early German immigrants to its more seedy years as a brothel in the 20th century, the hotel was a hub for mayhem, mystery and tragedy in Davenport's early days. Learn about the history of German American Heritage Center & Museum and learn from the paranormal team about the tools and strategies used during investigations.

Whether you're a skeptic or a full believer, a night at the museum is the perfect way to get into the Halloween spirit.

$30 per person, ticket includes light refreshments and soft drinks.
A cash bar is available; enjoy a German b**r or w**e while kicking it with the spirits!

All proceeds go to supporting the museum's programming.

Recommended for ages 13 and up. We tell true stories of individuals who have died in the building and they may not be suitable for younger audiences.

Get Tickets here: https://events.humanitix.com/geisternacht-paranormal-investigation-of-the-gahc-m

10/02/2026

Guests Who Never Checked Out: Part 1, Viola Banderob
Content warning: death by s*icide

Viola was a widow who was staying at the Standard Hotel in 1953. She was lonely, had no living relatives, and was battling many health issues before she decided to take her life. We do not know much about her life and what she was experiencing personally, but it is a sad and unfortunately true part of our building’s history. At the time, there were not many resources available for people living with depression and it was taboo to talk about. We can only imagine her grief and struggles she was facing and have sympathy for her situation.

09/29/2026

👻 Is it haunted?? Find out for yourself on October 10th during our "Geisternacht" paranormal investigation of the former hotel-turned-museum. Tickets at $30 per person and include snacks throughout the night, plus access to a cash bar. All proceeds from this event support historic preservation and programming at the German American Hertiage Center and Museum.
https://events.humanitix.com/geisternacht-paranormal-investigation-of-the-gahc-m
Space is limited. Not recommended for children under 13. Anyone under 16 needs to be accompanied by an adult.

09/27/2026

Purportedly based on a true story, The Lost One (1951) is a noir-inflected drama, told in flashback, about a doctor at a displaced persons camp haunted by his secret wartime experiments for the N***s and his murder of his fiancée (and, subsequently, other women) out of jealousy or perverted patriotism. Remarkably bleak and unforgiving, Lorre’s film was not popular among postwar German audiences, who were not ready to confront the guilt and tragedy as a result of the Third Reich.
You can see The Lost One (Der Verlorene) at the Last Picture House on September 30th. Get tickets online here: https://events.humanitix.com/film-series-at-the-last-picture-house-q2b9u4zv

09/22/2026

🇩🇪🍻 Thank you to everyone who came and enjoyed Oktoberfest on Saturday. We transformed our 4th floor into a b**r hall to stay in from the rain!

Thank you to our volunteers, staff, and everyone who made this event possible. A very special thank you to our sponsors whose support makes it possible for us to bring exciting cultural events to the Quad Cities.

PRESENTING SPONSOR: Zimmerman Honda
VIP SPONSOR: Koehler Electric
B**R TENT SPONSOR: KQCJ Planet 93.9 with Dave & Darren
SITE SPONSOR: Downtown Davenport Partnership
MUSIC SPONSOR: Tyson Foods
STEINHOLDING CONTEST SPONSOR: Pinnacle Country Club
PRETZEL TABLE SPONSOR: Quad City Bank and Trust
WATER SPONSOR: Hy-vee
Professional sound services provided by Bill Lilleman.
Thank you to The Textures and Die Musikmeisters for providing music throughout the day.

Proceeds from this event benefit the German American Heritage Center and Museum's operations, programs, and community outreach. Thank YOU to our community for showing up and supporting cultural institutions in the Quad Cities.