Culture
Take a Look at German Culture!A feature at this year's Cultural Village is the Auswandererwelt Ballinstadt Museum or Ballinstadt "Port of Dreams" museum from Hamburg and the Deutsches Auswandererhaus, Bremerhaven or Bremerhaven-German Emigration Center.
BallinStadt - Port of Dreams - Emigrant Museum Hamburg opened July 4th, 2007. It is dedicated to the five million people who left Europe between 1850 and 1939 via the port of Hamburg in search of a better life across the Atlantic. Hamburg served as a gateway to a New World. More than 81% emigrant decided to choose the USA as their new homeland.
This museum is an important resource to researchers doing genealogy and family tree research.
Visit the BallinStadt - Port of Dreams display and have them check their records and ship manifests for your family members free of charge.
Experience Hamburg - the metropolis in Northern Germany.
The Das Deutsche Auswandererhaus, Bremerhaven opened its' doors on August 8th, 2005 and tells the story of the over 7 Million emigrants who left the continent via Bremerhaven from 1830-1974. The German Emigration Center or Das Deutsche Auswandererhaus, Bremerhaven is Europes largest and most modern museum on the topic of emigration and was bestowed the award "European Museum of the Year 2007". This is the first German museum to win this award in the last 15 years. In our Forum Migration, we also have extensive databanks available for example, Ancestry.de, Ancestry.com, Bremer Passenger Lists, Ellis Island Passenger Lists and the Castle Garden Lists.
Passport Program for Children
Thursday 5-8 P.M.
Friday 3-7 P.M.
Saturday 1-7 P.M.
Sunday 1-7 P.M.
Musikgarten - Cultural Area
Saturday, July 26, 3:30 PM ñ John Gurda
John Gurda, Milwaukee-born writer and historian, has been studying his hometown since 1972. One of his books, The Making of Milwaukee, was the basis for a 2006 Emmy Award-winning documentary premiered by Milwaukee Public Television. Mr. Gurda will present ìGerman Milwaukeeî, a historical overview of the pervasive German influence on our community.
Sunday, July 27, noon-2:00 PM ñ Build a Bridge
John Peine, AIA, a local architect will build a cable stay bridge with K- nex with the help of children attending German Fest. Peine, of German descent, has a general architectural practice and is an educator and design consultant. He has presented Lego and K-nex activities to children and teens in the Milwaukee area. Students from the Milwaukee School of Engineering will be assisting John Peine.
Pick up Passport at many locations on the grounds. Children go to listed booths in Culture Tent to find out who the famous German-American is and will receive a sticker to put in their Passport. Go to the Passport Booth in the Cultural Tent for a small prize.
