400-year-long history of Germans in America from 1600 to now

Dir. Katja Sipple

Visit the German-American Heritage Museum with us in a private tour by its Director, Katja Sipple.

This is the only national museum to celebrate, display, and commend the achievements of immigrants who came from German-speaking countries and achieved the American dream. It traces their progress with a timeline, which runs the full length of the exhibition hall. This timeline represents the 400-year presence of German-speakers, who came to America, starting in the 1600s. As one enters the museum, the stairs featuring the names and faces of famous German-Americans welcomes museum visitors and beckons them to venture upward, to the second floor where they will see a number of panels, pointing out the various dates in American history in which German-Americans have had an immense influence.

You must RSVP HERE

The museum also houses relics from immigrant families with existing ties to their German heritage. You will be surprised when you see these artifacts and the 350lb. bust of Handel as you round the corner. The museum designates an entire wall to families with a long line of German history and the German heritage clubs operating in the United States today. It is because of these paneled groups and families, and the hard work and dedication of the German-American Heritage Foundation and its members, that this museum was able to become a center devoted to the cause of promoting and educating the public about German-Americans and their history.

This program is run by the Harvard Club of Washington DC

Vaccination/Safety Requirements: All registrants are required to be vaccinated. Please be prepared to provide proof of vaccination on site. If you have recently tested positive or have symptoms, please do not attend this event. If you are ill, please notify us prior to the start of the event, and we will be happy to refund your ticket fees. The Club encourages attendees to wear masks indoors when not eating or drinking, especially when social distance cannot be maintained.

Fee: Please be prepared to make a donation to the museum of at least $5

Katja Sipple comes to the German-American Heritage Foundation with more than 15 years of experience in non-profit organizations. After her undergraduate studies in Virginia, she pursued a master’s degree in political science at the Bayerische Julius-Maximilians-Universität in Würzburg, where she also began her career as a journalist for a daily newspaper.

After returning to the United States, Ms. Sipple was responsible for media relations at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Ga. before moving to Seattle, Wash. where she was director of media relations for the University of Washington School of Law. In 2005, she moved back to the East Coast, and established an outreach and development program at the German School Washington, DC while simultaneously pursuing another master’s degree in international relations at American University.