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

Calling all cabaret fans! Enjoy an exclusive preview of "Coming to America-An Immigrant Cabaret" with ExPats Theatre o...
09/01/2026



Calling all cabaret fans! Enjoy an exclusive preview of "Coming to America-An Immigrant Cabaret" with ExPats Theatre on Wednesday, Sept. 16 from 6-8 PM. America is a mosaic of arrival stories, and to celebrate its 250th anniversary, we are bringing four of them to the stage. This musical cabaret follows four immigrants from various global backgrounds (Germany, India, Peru, and Senegal) as they navigate the "obstacle race" of integration—confronting systemic complexities, culture clashes, and the contradictions of their new home. Through song, storytelling, humor, and sharp satire, we celebrate and dramatize these unique chronicles that reflect the breadth of U.S. culture and its ever-changing relationship to the world. Have a glass of fun and laugh with us as we continue to celebrate the US's big birthday.

https://gahmusa.org/event/coming-to-america-an-immigrant-cabaret-on-sept-16-from-6-8-pm/

Who doesn't love a good urban legend? The Muhlenberg Myth is a particularly persistent example of such a legend that...
07/29/2026


Who doesn't love a good urban legend? The Muhlenberg Myth is a particularly persistent example of such a legend that has been making the rounds since the late 18th century. Let's get to the bottom of this story: the claim is that German narrowly missed becoming the official language of the newly-minted United States because Frederick Muhlenberg, the first speaker of the House of Representatives, cast a tie-breaking vote in favor of English. Of course, this is not accurate, but myths always have a kernel of truth. In 1794, a group of German speakers petitioned the government to translate some laws into German. The House of Representatives debated the petition, but never acted upon it. A vote to adjourn and to reconsider it later was defeated 42 to 41. The story evolved from a misunderstanding and was later distorted by a German historian, and has been used by various groups to promote immigrant pride, fuel cultural debates, or highlight assimilation tensions.

Frederick Muhlenberg (1750-1801) was one of three sons of Heinrich (Henry) Mühlenberg, the founder of the Lutheran C...
07/28/2026


Frederick Muhlenberg (1750-1801) was one of three sons of Heinrich (Henry) Mühlenberg, the founder of the Lutheran Church in the American colonies, and his wife Anna Maria Weiser. His brother, Peter, was a general in the Continental Army and his brother Gotthilf Heinrich Ernst was a botanist.
Frederick and his brothers attended the Latin School at the Franckesche Foundations in Halle, Germany beginning in 1763 where he also pursued the study of theology at the University of Halle. He preached in Stouchsburg, Pennsylvania, and Lebanon, Pennsylvania, from 1770 to 1774, and in New York City from 1774 to 1776. When the British Army entered New York at the onset of the American Revolutionary War, he left and returned to Pennsylvania. He moved to New Hanover Township, and was a pastor there and in Oley and New Goshenhoppen until August 1779.

Muhlenberg was a member of the Continental Congress in 1779 and 1780, and served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1780 to 1783, and was elected its speaker on Nov. 3, 1780. As a delegate to and chairman of the Pennsylvania state constitutional convention in 1787, he was also called to ratify the Federal Constitution, and became the first signer of the Bill of Rights. His name is also tied to the Muhlenberg Myth, which claims that he was the one vote which prevented German from becoming an official language in the United States. More on that tomorrow. He died on June 4, 1801, and is buried in Woodward Hill Cemetery in Lancaster.

07/21/2026

Germans aren't exactly famous for saying, "Let's just wing it!" We prefer our spontaneity... carefully scheduled.

If you've ever heard a German say, "Let's meet in KW 37," don't panic. That's Kalenderwoche (calendar week), and yes, we actually use it.

A few essentials to keep you in sync with your German friends:
📅 The week starts on Monday.
📅 It ends on Sunday.
📅 And 2026 gives us 53 calendar weeks to plan everything with glorious precision.

Because why say "sometime in September" when you can confidently say, "See you in KW 38."

A big thank you to the Austrian Embassy for welcoming GAHF's interns, the three lovely ladies in the center, and for pro...
07/21/2026

A big thank you to the Austrian Embassy for welcoming GAHF's interns, the three lovely ladies in the center, and for providing interesting insights into the work of a diplomatic mission and the role of German-speaking immigrants from the Salzburgers to modern-day icons like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Christoph Waltz in the United States. If you are interested in viewing the exhibit "The Sound of Ambition: Austrians in the American Semiquincentennial" please contact the embassy to schedule a visit.

Greetings from the sweltering capital where the temperature has reached 40C or 104F. We hope you're enjoying your summer...
07/15/2026

Greetings from the sweltering capital where the temperature has reached 40C or 104F. We hope you're enjoying your summer, too.
This is a shoutout to all potential host families who might be interested in opening their homes to a young professional from Germany. CBYX, a US State Department program, is accepting applications from host families on a rolling basis. It's a great chance to build connections and form friendships with young Germans. The time period is August through June. Email [email protected] or scan the QR code for more information.

The German language features anywhere from 300,000 to 5 million words depending on how you count them as German speake...
07/07/2026

The German language features anywhere from 300,000 to 5 million words depending on how you count them as German speakers are known for combining nouns to form new words. But in some cases, three letters are all you need...tja

The long-awaited Sail250 event in Baltimore has begun. If you love tall ships, Baltimore Harbor is the place to be t...
06/26/2026


The long-awaited Sail250 event in Baltimore has begun. If you love tall ships, Baltimore Harbor is the place to be this weekend. In addition to the German Navy's Gorch Fock, at least two other tall ships built by Blohm & Voss are currently anchored in Maryland: the US Coast Guard's Eagle (formerly Horst Wessel) and the Portuguese Navy's Sagres, which was launched as the Albert Leo Schlageter in 1937.

For more information about the different ships and other events, visit https://www.sail250md.org/

We are so thrilled to have a wonderful trio of interns again. These talented young ladies joined us this month, and we a...
06/24/2026

We are so thrilled to have a wonderful trio of interns again. These talented young ladies joined us this month, and we are so excited to work with them and to show them around Washington, DC this summer as the city is gearing up for America250.
From left: Amy Lamb, Anna Rueffer, and Aniek Lehmann. Amy and Anna are both from Maryland, and Aniek hails from Hamburg, Germany.

Have you ever dreamed of dancing under crystal chandeliers in a real palace? Dream no more, your waltz in Vienna awa...
06/24/2026

Have you ever dreamed of dancing under crystal chandeliers in a real palace? Dream no more, your waltz in Vienna awaits! Join GAHF on a magical trip to the Austrian capital in January of 2027 to attend a romantic ball, enjoy Austrian cuisine, and get exclusive tours of famous sights such as the Austrian Parliament and the Palais Liechtenstein, which houses one of the most famous and extensive private art collections in the world. We are also partnering with the Elmayer Dance School to help you with the intricacies of the Midnight Quadrille, an audience favorite at Viennese balls.
https://gahmusa.org/vienna2027/

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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